2025-09-29, 10:47 PM
1
Several weeks had now passed since the dramatic conflict with the Borg. Federation space had noticeably calmed down, becoming almost eerily quiet. No distress calls, no political crises, no transdimensional threats. Instead, the USS Enterprise was once again devoted to the smaller things—routine missions, supply lines, diplomatic transport.
The Starfleet flagship was currently in orbit around Trill, bringing some diplomats home. However, for Elbrun Tiran and his husband Alyosha, this offered a special moment of peace: a visit with an old friend and their godchildren.
Captain Pirol Dorvo of the USS Bradbury, currently on family leave, recently had his second child – a little girl named Esra. While his ship flew support missions under the command of his First Officer, Pirol stayed with his family on Trill. The Dorvos' small house was idyllically situated in a village where only a few families lived – a small enclave of tranquility, surrounded by green nature and warm breezes.
Alyosha sat on the terrace with Pirol and his wife Freya, who gently cradled the newborn baby in her arms. The child slumbered peacefully, wrapped in a fine, soft blanket. Alyosha gazed at the little creature, fascinated, with that soft, serene gaze that only someone who truly appreciates life has.
“She looks like you,” Alyosha said quietly to Freya.
She smiled, wearily but proudly. "And hopefully she'll get some of his stubbornness too," she said, playfully nudging Oriole.
Meanwhile, Elbrun was nowhere to be seen – not because he was distancing himself, but because he was completely absorbed in his own little mission: On the large meadow behind the house, he was romping exuberantly with three-year-old Alda, the Dorvos' older son.
Elbrun wore only a blue, slightly faded T-shirt and green shorts. His skin glistened in the sunlight, his feet were dusty, his shirt stained—signs of true devotion. Alda sat squeaking on a swing, which Elbrun repeatedly pushed, each time accompanied by cries of:
“Higher, Uncle Elbrun! Even higher!”
Or
"Catch me, Uncle Elbrun!"
And Elbrun caught him. Always. Without hesitation.
Alyosha watched the spectacle again and again with a soft smile. It had become rare to see Elbrun so carefree. He laughed—really laughed—with a sound that resonated with life and joy, and perhaps even a little bit of childhood. The sun shone golden through the leaves, a light breeze played with the grass, and for a moment it seemed as if there was no universe out there that needed saving.
No galactic war.
No diplomacy.
No responsibility.
Just life.
Time passed in an almost dreamlike manner. In the distance, one could hear the chirping of small insects, the occasional cooing of a bird, and the repeated laughter of Alda, who was carried on Elbrun's shoulders while he pretended to be a mount.
“Where are we going, Captain Alda?” Elbrun asked in a dramatic tone.
“To the volcano! There’s lava!” Alda shouted excitedly.
"Ooooh, lava. Then we need shields and ice cream!" Elbrun said seriously, flopping backward into the grass. Alda snorted with laughter.
On the terrace, Oriole shook his head, but with a smile that revealed how deeply this scene touched him. "You know, I think he'd be a good father," he said casually.
Alyosha glanced at him sideways. "That's what I was just thinking."
Freya placed a hand on her belly, even though the child had long been born – a gesture full of maternal instinct.
"You two... never talked about it, did you? Kids, I mean."
Alyosha looked out for a moment at the meadow where Elbrun and Alda were now lying together in the grass, looking at the sky – apparently looking for cloud formations.
"Once," he said quietly. "Some time ago. If Elbrun ever takes over from Admiral Gromek, perhaps... then we could settle on Earth. But like this..."
He hesitated briefly. "We can't raise a child on a warship."
Oriole nodded understandingly. At that moment, Elbrun returned to the terrace with Alda in his arms. His cheeks were flushed, his hair disheveled, and his shirt was decorated with a wreath of grass around the collar—a sign of carefree hours.
“Mission Vulcan completed!” he announced triumphantly as he set down Alda, who ran laughing to his mother.
"And you?" Alyosha asked with a teasing grin. "Survived?"
“With glory, honor – and probably a full-blown sore muscle.”
Elbrun sat down next to Alyosha and leaned back—relaxed, content. His hand automatically sought his husband's, and their fingers intertwined as if by magic.
Freya and Oriole exchanged a silent, meaningful glance. And although no one said it, it was in the air:
There were no admirals, no captains – just four adults and two children, connected by something greater than any rank:
Friendship. Trust. Family.
Later that evening, after the children were long in bed and the adults had finished a leisurely dinner, Elbrun and Alyosha said goodbye to the Dorvo family. A warm moment, a final handshake, a silent promise to return soon – then the familiar whir of the transporter whisked them back aboard the Enterprise.
The day had been beautiful—full of laughter, closeness, and memories. But it was also long, exhausting... and, in Elbrun's case, pretty dirty.
As soon as they entered their quarters, Alyosha gave him a meaningful look and said in a tone that brooked no contradiction:
"Come on. Take off your clothes."
Elbrun blinked in surprise. "What?"
“Take off your clothes! Take off everything!”
"Okay..." Elbrun replied with a crooked grin, slowly pulling his T-shirt over his head. His toned torso was revealed, slightly sweaty, a few grass stains on his skin.
Alyosha stepped closer, his eyes glittering.
“And then you go straight to bed.”
He leaned forward, his voice deepening.
“I want you to give me a child.”
Elbrun froze for a moment – then he laughed softly, warmly and in surprise.
“You do know that’s anatomically impossible, right?”
Alyosha shrugged his shoulders, his expression remaining serious – but there was a seductive glint in his eyes.
“We can still try,” he breathed with a cheeky undertone.
Elbrun grinned. "Well, since you're asking so politely..." Without hesitation, he grabbed his husband, easily lifted him into his arms, and carried him across the room straight to bed.
The lights were dimmed, her movements became faster, more intense – and yet every touch was familiar, every gesture imbued with something deeper than mere desire.
About twenty minutes later, the two were lying next to each other. Naked, exhausted—and in Elbrun's case, freshly showered. A slight chill swirled through the room, but beneath the blankets, it was warm, soft, and comforting.
Elbrun had put an arm around Alyosha, his fingers resting loosely on his hip.
“The fact that you were so direct today… that honestly surprised me,” he murmured quietly.
Alyosha turned his head to the side—his cheeks were still slightly flushed, either from the conversation or from the heat between them.
"I think... I've developed a little daddy fetish," he confessed meekly, biting his lower lip.
Alyosha continued quietly: "When I saw you playing with Alda... you were so loving, playful, full of energy. It was just... damn attractive. That's a side of you I've never experienced so intensely."
He glanced up briefly at Elbrun's face.
"We hardly have any children in our immediate circle. I didn't know you could be like that."
Elbrun was silent for a moment, then he hugged Alyosha more tightly and kissed him gently on the forehead.
“Maybe I didn’t know myself.”
Alyosha was silent for a moment. He rested his forehead against Elbrun's chest, listening to the calm rhythm of his heartbeat.
"You were simply... beautiful. In that meadow. Not the admiral. Not the tactician. Just you."
Elbrun's fingers slid through Alyosha's hair, slowly, lost in thought.
"And you looked at me like I was the best thing that ever happened to you."
Alyosha grinned against his skin. "Because you are."
A moment of silence descended upon the quarters. No sound except the muffled hum of the ship's systems—a strange but pleasant counterpart to the nature that had surrounded them so far today.
"Do you think someday..." Alyosha began hesitantly, "...would it be possible for us? A child? Not today, not tomorrow. But... someday?"
Elbrun took a deep breath. No laughter, no flirting—just a calm seriousness in his voice.
"If I know you want it, then I'll think about it. And once I've decided... there won't be any maybes."
He turned slightly so they could look at each other—forehead to forehead, breath to breath.
"I could make you happy with so many things, Imzadi. If a child is part of it... then I'll make sure you get it."
Alyosha swallowed. His voice was barely more than a whisper:
“With you. Only with you.”
Elbrun placed his hand on his cheek, his gaze warm and clear.
"Always."
And so they lay there. Two men, amidst stars and silence, as close to each other as possible – while outside, the universe slept on.
The next morning, Alyosha slowly awoke. The bed next to him was empty, the blanket still warm—a sign that Elbrun hadn't been gone long. A quiet rustling, followed by the creaking of a lid, lured him from the bedroom.
Curious, he stepped barefoot into the living area of their quarters. There, Elbrun sat cross-legged on the floor, in front of him an open box filled with old things he apparently hadn't looked at in a long time.
Alyosha leaned against the doorframe and quietly watched as his husband held a few awards in his hands. The shining Starfleet medals he'd been awarded during his career. His silver medal from the Olympics. And then... a small, adored stuffed animal.
A flattened, gray-brown stuffed dog with one worn ear and one slightly crooked button eye.
“Well, that stuffed animal has seen better days,” Aljoscha remarked with a grin.
Elbrun looked up, the stuffed animal still in his hands, and made a mock-indignant face.
“Hey! Don’t say anything about my Lilly!”
“Lilly?” Alyosha asked in surprise, stepping closer.
"Yes, every one of my stuffed animals had a name. And Lilly was my first. She went through it all with me—from the academy entrance exam to my first command."
Alyosha sat down next to him on the floor and reached out for the stuffed dog. "And you've kept it all these years..."
Elbrun shrugged with a slight smile. "You never forget your first loves."
Alyosha smiled softly. "Mine were named Henry, Mina, and Floppo."
"Floppo?" Elbrun repeated, laughing. "Sounds like a real strategist."
“He was a very brave hare,” said Alyosha with mock seriousness, then they both laughed.
They were silent for a moment. Their hands touched on the floor amidst all the memories.
Elbrun looked at Alyosha, his gaze soft, full of gratitude.
"You know... sometimes I wonder how I got to all this. To you. To this life."
Alyosha placed his hand over Elbrun's.
"If you're having a major existential crisis right now, just say so. I'll go get the chocolate."
"Oh no," said Elbrun, shaking his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "No crisis. Just a little wonder."
"About what?"
"About how I simply have a damn good life. I have you. I get to do what I love. I'm healthy. Sure, there have been darker times too—moments I'd rather forget. But those are part of it too. They've made me who I am today."
Alyosha smiled and gently squeezed his hand.
“And I wouldn’t have you any other way for the world.”
Elbrun winked. "Not even with less dramatic missions?"
"Well... maybe a little less drama. But only if you keep smiling."
He became serious for a moment, his voice gentle but direct.
"And a real laugh. Not that fake one you sometimes wear when you're trying to calm everyone around you. Or when you're trying to hide how bad you really feel."
Elbrun looked at him—silent for a moment, without a word. Then something in his face seemed to give way. No mask, no joke. Just openness.
"I know," he finally said quietly. "Sometimes I forget that I don't have to do that with you."
Alyosha gently placed his forehead against his.
“That’s exactly why.”
“Come on, let’s have breakfast,” Alyosha finally said, stretching slightly before getting up from the floor.
Elbrun nodded and let his gaze glide over the open box once more. Then he too stood up, casually picked up Lilly, and placed her on a shelf with an almost solemn gesture.
"Yes, that sounds good," he said, following Alyosha toward the replicator. "After that, I should contact Tamek. I got a message from him last night—he told me to get in touch when I have time."
The two enjoyed their breakfast, the day could now begin
Several weeks had now passed since the dramatic conflict with the Borg. Federation space had noticeably calmed down, becoming almost eerily quiet. No distress calls, no political crises, no transdimensional threats. Instead, the USS Enterprise was once again devoted to the smaller things—routine missions, supply lines, diplomatic transport.
The Starfleet flagship was currently in orbit around Trill, bringing some diplomats home. However, for Elbrun Tiran and his husband Alyosha, this offered a special moment of peace: a visit with an old friend and their godchildren.
Captain Pirol Dorvo of the USS Bradbury, currently on family leave, recently had his second child – a little girl named Esra. While his ship flew support missions under the command of his First Officer, Pirol stayed with his family on Trill. The Dorvos' small house was idyllically situated in a village where only a few families lived – a small enclave of tranquility, surrounded by green nature and warm breezes.
Alyosha sat on the terrace with Pirol and his wife Freya, who gently cradled the newborn baby in her arms. The child slumbered peacefully, wrapped in a fine, soft blanket. Alyosha gazed at the little creature, fascinated, with that soft, serene gaze that only someone who truly appreciates life has.
“She looks like you,” Alyosha said quietly to Freya.
She smiled, wearily but proudly. "And hopefully she'll get some of his stubbornness too," she said, playfully nudging Oriole.
Meanwhile, Elbrun was nowhere to be seen – not because he was distancing himself, but because he was completely absorbed in his own little mission: On the large meadow behind the house, he was romping exuberantly with three-year-old Alda, the Dorvos' older son.
Elbrun wore only a blue, slightly faded T-shirt and green shorts. His skin glistened in the sunlight, his feet were dusty, his shirt stained—signs of true devotion. Alda sat squeaking on a swing, which Elbrun repeatedly pushed, each time accompanied by cries of:
“Higher, Uncle Elbrun! Even higher!”
Or
"Catch me, Uncle Elbrun!"
And Elbrun caught him. Always. Without hesitation.
Alyosha watched the spectacle again and again with a soft smile. It had become rare to see Elbrun so carefree. He laughed—really laughed—with a sound that resonated with life and joy, and perhaps even a little bit of childhood. The sun shone golden through the leaves, a light breeze played with the grass, and for a moment it seemed as if there was no universe out there that needed saving.
No galactic war.
No diplomacy.
No responsibility.
Just life.
Time passed in an almost dreamlike manner. In the distance, one could hear the chirping of small insects, the occasional cooing of a bird, and the repeated laughter of Alda, who was carried on Elbrun's shoulders while he pretended to be a mount.
“Where are we going, Captain Alda?” Elbrun asked in a dramatic tone.
“To the volcano! There’s lava!” Alda shouted excitedly.
"Ooooh, lava. Then we need shields and ice cream!" Elbrun said seriously, flopping backward into the grass. Alda snorted with laughter.
On the terrace, Oriole shook his head, but with a smile that revealed how deeply this scene touched him. "You know, I think he'd be a good father," he said casually.
Alyosha glanced at him sideways. "That's what I was just thinking."
Freya placed a hand on her belly, even though the child had long been born – a gesture full of maternal instinct.
"You two... never talked about it, did you? Kids, I mean."
Alyosha looked out for a moment at the meadow where Elbrun and Alda were now lying together in the grass, looking at the sky – apparently looking for cloud formations.
"Once," he said quietly. "Some time ago. If Elbrun ever takes over from Admiral Gromek, perhaps... then we could settle on Earth. But like this..."
He hesitated briefly. "We can't raise a child on a warship."
Oriole nodded understandingly. At that moment, Elbrun returned to the terrace with Alda in his arms. His cheeks were flushed, his hair disheveled, and his shirt was decorated with a wreath of grass around the collar—a sign of carefree hours.
“Mission Vulcan completed!” he announced triumphantly as he set down Alda, who ran laughing to his mother.
"And you?" Alyosha asked with a teasing grin. "Survived?"
“With glory, honor – and probably a full-blown sore muscle.”
Elbrun sat down next to Alyosha and leaned back—relaxed, content. His hand automatically sought his husband's, and their fingers intertwined as if by magic.
Freya and Oriole exchanged a silent, meaningful glance. And although no one said it, it was in the air:
There were no admirals, no captains – just four adults and two children, connected by something greater than any rank:
Friendship. Trust. Family.
Later that evening, after the children were long in bed and the adults had finished a leisurely dinner, Elbrun and Alyosha said goodbye to the Dorvo family. A warm moment, a final handshake, a silent promise to return soon – then the familiar whir of the transporter whisked them back aboard the Enterprise.
The day had been beautiful—full of laughter, closeness, and memories. But it was also long, exhausting... and, in Elbrun's case, pretty dirty.
As soon as they entered their quarters, Alyosha gave him a meaningful look and said in a tone that brooked no contradiction:
"Come on. Take off your clothes."
Elbrun blinked in surprise. "What?"
“Take off your clothes! Take off everything!”
"Okay..." Elbrun replied with a crooked grin, slowly pulling his T-shirt over his head. His toned torso was revealed, slightly sweaty, a few grass stains on his skin.
Alyosha stepped closer, his eyes glittering.
“And then you go straight to bed.”
He leaned forward, his voice deepening.
“I want you to give me a child.”
Elbrun froze for a moment – then he laughed softly, warmly and in surprise.
“You do know that’s anatomically impossible, right?”
Alyosha shrugged his shoulders, his expression remaining serious – but there was a seductive glint in his eyes.
“We can still try,” he breathed with a cheeky undertone.
Elbrun grinned. "Well, since you're asking so politely..." Without hesitation, he grabbed his husband, easily lifted him into his arms, and carried him across the room straight to bed.
The lights were dimmed, her movements became faster, more intense – and yet every touch was familiar, every gesture imbued with something deeper than mere desire.
About twenty minutes later, the two were lying next to each other. Naked, exhausted—and in Elbrun's case, freshly showered. A slight chill swirled through the room, but beneath the blankets, it was warm, soft, and comforting.
Elbrun had put an arm around Alyosha, his fingers resting loosely on his hip.
“The fact that you were so direct today… that honestly surprised me,” he murmured quietly.
Alyosha turned his head to the side—his cheeks were still slightly flushed, either from the conversation or from the heat between them.
"I think... I've developed a little daddy fetish," he confessed meekly, biting his lower lip.
Alyosha continued quietly: "When I saw you playing with Alda... you were so loving, playful, full of energy. It was just... damn attractive. That's a side of you I've never experienced so intensely."
He glanced up briefly at Elbrun's face.
"We hardly have any children in our immediate circle. I didn't know you could be like that."
Elbrun was silent for a moment, then he hugged Alyosha more tightly and kissed him gently on the forehead.
“Maybe I didn’t know myself.”
Alyosha was silent for a moment. He rested his forehead against Elbrun's chest, listening to the calm rhythm of his heartbeat.
"You were simply... beautiful. In that meadow. Not the admiral. Not the tactician. Just you."
Elbrun's fingers slid through Alyosha's hair, slowly, lost in thought.
"And you looked at me like I was the best thing that ever happened to you."
Alyosha grinned against his skin. "Because you are."
A moment of silence descended upon the quarters. No sound except the muffled hum of the ship's systems—a strange but pleasant counterpart to the nature that had surrounded them so far today.
"Do you think someday..." Alyosha began hesitantly, "...would it be possible for us? A child? Not today, not tomorrow. But... someday?"
Elbrun took a deep breath. No laughter, no flirting—just a calm seriousness in his voice.
"If I know you want it, then I'll think about it. And once I've decided... there won't be any maybes."
He turned slightly so they could look at each other—forehead to forehead, breath to breath.
"I could make you happy with so many things, Imzadi. If a child is part of it... then I'll make sure you get it."
Alyosha swallowed. His voice was barely more than a whisper:
“With you. Only with you.”
Elbrun placed his hand on his cheek, his gaze warm and clear.
"Always."
And so they lay there. Two men, amidst stars and silence, as close to each other as possible – while outside, the universe slept on.
The next morning, Alyosha slowly awoke. The bed next to him was empty, the blanket still warm—a sign that Elbrun hadn't been gone long. A quiet rustling, followed by the creaking of a lid, lured him from the bedroom.
Curious, he stepped barefoot into the living area of their quarters. There, Elbrun sat cross-legged on the floor, in front of him an open box filled with old things he apparently hadn't looked at in a long time.
Alyosha leaned against the doorframe and quietly watched as his husband held a few awards in his hands. The shining Starfleet medals he'd been awarded during his career. His silver medal from the Olympics. And then... a small, adored stuffed animal.
A flattened, gray-brown stuffed dog with one worn ear and one slightly crooked button eye.
“Well, that stuffed animal has seen better days,” Aljoscha remarked with a grin.
Elbrun looked up, the stuffed animal still in his hands, and made a mock-indignant face.
“Hey! Don’t say anything about my Lilly!”
“Lilly?” Alyosha asked in surprise, stepping closer.
"Yes, every one of my stuffed animals had a name. And Lilly was my first. She went through it all with me—from the academy entrance exam to my first command."
Alyosha sat down next to him on the floor and reached out for the stuffed dog. "And you've kept it all these years..."
Elbrun shrugged with a slight smile. "You never forget your first loves."
Alyosha smiled softly. "Mine were named Henry, Mina, and Floppo."
"Floppo?" Elbrun repeated, laughing. "Sounds like a real strategist."
“He was a very brave hare,” said Alyosha with mock seriousness, then they both laughed.
They were silent for a moment. Their hands touched on the floor amidst all the memories.
Elbrun looked at Alyosha, his gaze soft, full of gratitude.
"You know... sometimes I wonder how I got to all this. To you. To this life."
Alyosha placed his hand over Elbrun's.
"If you're having a major existential crisis right now, just say so. I'll go get the chocolate."
"Oh no," said Elbrun, shaking his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "No crisis. Just a little wonder."
"About what?"
"About how I simply have a damn good life. I have you. I get to do what I love. I'm healthy. Sure, there have been darker times too—moments I'd rather forget. But those are part of it too. They've made me who I am today."
Alyosha smiled and gently squeezed his hand.
“And I wouldn’t have you any other way for the world.”
Elbrun winked. "Not even with less dramatic missions?"
"Well... maybe a little less drama. But only if you keep smiling."
He became serious for a moment, his voice gentle but direct.
"And a real laugh. Not that fake one you sometimes wear when you're trying to calm everyone around you. Or when you're trying to hide how bad you really feel."
Elbrun looked at him—silent for a moment, without a word. Then something in his face seemed to give way. No mask, no joke. Just openness.
"I know," he finally said quietly. "Sometimes I forget that I don't have to do that with you."
Alyosha gently placed his forehead against his.
“That’s exactly why.”
“Come on, let’s have breakfast,” Alyosha finally said, stretching slightly before getting up from the floor.
Elbrun nodded and let his gaze glide over the open box once more. Then he too stood up, casually picked up Lilly, and placed her on a shelf with an almost solemn gesture.
"Yes, that sounds good," he said, following Alyosha toward the replicator. "After that, I should contact Tamek. I got a message from him last night—he told me to get in touch when I have time."
The two enjoyed their breakfast, the day could now begin