Family Reunion

Posted on 20 Dec 2013 @ 6:46pm by Lieutenant Min Zhao & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes
Edited on on 20 Dec 2013 @ 8:38pm

2,597 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Earth - Various
Timeline: MD -19: 1820hrs

[ON]

[Earth - San Francisco (Oakland)]

Frustration is a killer. And it certainly isn't helping my blood pressure any. Wei Zhao thought as he walked into the family room. He looked over to his wife and said in an expectant voice, "Well, is she here yet?"

Elisabet looked up from a padd she was reading. Her husband was pacing as usual, a habit she'd grown used to in the 35 years they'd been together. "Yu Zhen said he'd call when she arrived at their place. Shen felt it would be best if we went there Wei. Easier on Min I expect."

Not being in control of a situation was one of Wei's faults, he knew. Wei was proud of his daughter for many things, being in Starfleet was one of them, but his time was his, not to be inhibited by others. He began to parrot quietly as he continued to pace, "Easier on Min. Easier on Min." Turning back to his wife, "Is this going to be another . . dropping of a proverbial bomb on us?" Without letting his wife respond, "Maybe she's married, maybe she's a homosexual." He rolled his eyes in frustration and continued to pace.

"And if she is, what does it matter? She's still your daughter Wei." Elisabet patted the seat beside her on the couch. "Whatever Min has been up to the last few years, all will be explained. Now come sit down."

Wei had always found his wife's understanding of the situation to be more grounded than his. He made a slight bobbing motion with his head accepting her guidance. As he sat on the sofa, "I will try to wait for her full explanation. Well, I'll try."

"You will wait. I don't want to lose our daughter again because she feels she can't face you. You know how she adores you Wei. She hates to disappoint you and two years ago she refused to come home because of that. We haven't seen her since except for small notes she dropped Yu Zhen every once in a while."

[Meanwhile]

Min stepped into the elevator of her older brother's condo complex. Pressing the 37th floor button she waited in nervous anticipation as the lift made it's way up to their suite. After what felt like an eternity, the doors opened and Min made the short walk to their door. ~This is it.~ She mused, ~For better or for worse.~

Her hand shaking a slight bit, Min gently tapped the chime to her brother's suite.

The door is opened and Yu Zhen looked down up on his little sister standing there. All he can do is look and smile. His mind is filled with memories of their childhood together. He finally finds his voice and says in a very loving way, "It's so good to see you Min. Come on in."

Min stepped inside Yu Zhen's condo. The place had a very spartan, almost post-modern feel about it, something she knew Yu Zhen enjoyed. The layout was open and even from the entry way she had a good view of the outside. Her hands trembled a little as she stepped further in. She'd not seen family since before her resignation from Starfleet and while everyone knew she'd resigned, the past few years she hadn't been in contact much.

Seeing her brother standing in front of her for the first time in years, she reached over and gave him a large hug. Tears rolled down her face and all she could whisper at that moment was "I'm sorry."

Yu Zhen wrapped his arms around his sister saying calmingly, yet sarcastic a little, "There there Sis. No worries." He could feel her quivering next to his body and felt bad for being so light hearted. He added with a more sincere tone, still holding her close, "It's alright." Patting her back gently, "Its alright."

Min held her brother in her arms for a minute or so before she let go. He was her protector growing up and when she needed a hug he was always there, never judging. She let go of her brother. "I assume Mother and Father will be along soon enough?"

Shen nodded, "Already waiting for you. They're in the family room."

Min hadn't seen Shen approach while she was hugging her brother. She'd been aboard the Orion still when they were married and never met the lady. She smiled broadly at Shen and almost ran over to her. Giving the girl a big hug. "It's good to finally meet you."

Yu Zhen watched as two of his favorite people were hugging for the first time. He couldn't help but smile.

Shen smiled warmly as she embraced Min in a hug, "Its a pleasure to meet you too. Yu has told me a lot about you, but I've been anxious to greet you in person."

"I'm sorry I couldn't make the wedding. We were in the midst of a six month deep space assignment when the invites came. I saw holos tho. It was beautiful."

Still standing in the entry way, Yu Zhen said, "All right, all right. Let's take this in the house and sit down where we can be comfortable."

"Yu is right we don't need to keep discussing this out here," Shen answered pleasantly.

Yu Zhen watched Min as the girls walked towards the family room ahead of him. Yu Zhen thought it odd and like a brother asked abruptly, "Min? Are you putting on a little weight?"

Min stopped in her tracks. She motioned for Yu Zhen to follow her as she stopped in the kitchen area, just out of earshot of the family room. Quietly so as not to be overheard, Min spoke. "That's not extra weight brother. I'm four months pregnant. And no, I haven't told anyone, least of all father." She paused. "And don't you dare say anything. They'll notice soon enough as I'm already starting to show given the right clothes."

Yu's eyes got big with excitement. So much so that he was about to explode. In hushed yet excitedly he said, "You're going to have a baby. Oh my god! That's so exciting!" His face instantly went to a frown and looked both ways seriously to see who could hear, "Dad's gonna flip."

"Maybe not flip, but that disappointed look he gets is as bad. I don't know about you brother, but that wilting gaze he gives you when you foul up? It's worse then any yelling and ranting. At least someone yelling and ranting is expressing what they feel. Dad just gives you that look and you don't know what's going through his mind."

Tears started rolling down her face. "I don't know if I can face Dad YuZhen. It's hard enough facing him after quitting starfleet, running away, then going back to face the music and being accepted back to my old job. That at least I can say I owned up to my mistakes and fixed them. He'll respect that. But to get knocked up out of wedlock by some guy, who then abandons me, because all I was to him was a piece of tail to him? Yeah I didn't know he was such an ass at the time, and yeah I should have taken precautions. But I didn't, so here I am."

Min tried to collect her composure. "Is there any way we can speak with Mom first before I face father? Mom's usually pretty good with keeping Dad in line."

YuZhen stretched out his arms and walked towards her, "You'll always be number one in my book, even pregnant."

[Family room]

Elisabet glanced up from her padd as Shen entered the room. Shen looked a little disconcerted as she'd expected YuZhen & Min right behind her. Elisabet sensed something was amiss and glanced at her husband, who was looking somewhat confused. "I'll be right back Wei."

Wei felt a little frustrated, "Why is everyone treating me like I'm an old man already." He crossed his arms and waited.

Standing, she went over to Shen. In an almost whisper she remarked. "Min's here isn't she?"

"Yes she's here," Shen answered.

"I thought so. Any idea what's going on?"

Shen was silent for a moment, "I have an idea but I think you should talk to Min. It's not my place to say."

[Kitchen]

Elisabt walked into the kitchen to see her Son holding her second oldest daughter. Min looked like she was crying, which didn't surprise her one bit. Wei was a good man and a good father but as much as the kids adored him and respected him, he didn't handle failure in his kids well. Elisabet knew the look he gave their kids, she also knew how much he blamed himself when they did falter. He considered it a failure of himself as a father which made it doubly tough.

She quietly approached her daughter, "Min?"

Min looked up from crying into her brothers chest. She sniffled a little as she saw her mother and Shen in the room. "Mom?"

"Yes Min." She opened her arms to hug her daughter, who very quickly buried herself in her arms. "I'm glad your back sweetie."

She held her daughter for the longest time, as if to try and make up for the years they'd been apart. She slowly released her and, wiping a tear from her cheek, looked into her daughter's eyes. "Tell me what's wrong."

Yu Zhen watched mother and daughter embrace, as he had his arm rapped over his wife's shoulder to comfort her as well. He thought, This was going to be a lot for Min to deal with. He hoped that she was up to it.

Min looked at her mother, swallowing and trying to regain her composure. "I'm scared mother. You know how father handles failure in his kids."

Elisabet nodded, making a go on motion.

"There's more to this then just my screwup with starfleet, which by the way, I was accepted back in with some restrictions." She paused. "I don't know how to explain to father I'm four months pregnant with some guys baby." She began crying and fell back into her mother's arms.

Yu Zhen thought, one down and one to go.

Shen understood Min's reaction. Her suspicions had been right, but it was not her place to say anything so she remained quiet.

Yu Zhen watched with pursed lips uncertain what to say. He definitely did not want to upset the emotional state of his sister in this moment of comfort by mom.


((after another few minutes))

Yu Zhen's demeanor went from concern to caution. The door filling space of their father stood in the doorway.

Wei stood in the doorway to the Kitchen looking at 4 very suspicious characters. With a slightly demanding tone of authority, "So, what's going on in here and why have I had to wait to see my own daughter?"

Elisabet looked at her husband, a silent look passing across her face that said "Don't you dare do anything stupid towards your daughter.'

Wei's eyes went to Min, her face red from tears. He knew there was more going on than met the eye. He said calmly and caring, yet a bit flat, "Hi Sweety. I'm glad you're home."

Min wiped a tear from one cheek as she looked at her father. "I'm glad to be home father."

Wei took a deep breath to ease his tension, "Well then, Let's start with a hug and go from there." He extended his hands slightly. "Shall we?"

Min looked at her father. The moment of truth. A tear began to form in her eye as she began. "I don't know how to best say this father, so I'll just say it. I'm four months pregnant."

Wei's hands dropped. A blank look came over his face. He looked at all the faces in the room, then began to wipe his face slowly with one hand as he began to look everywhere, but at them. There were so many things racing through his mind. The main words that kept cropping to mind family, honor, safety, dishonor, prevail, family. Looking back at Min he smiled, but did not speak. He looked to his wife, "We should get her off her feet and then we can talk." He turned abruptly and walked out of the Kitchen into the living room.

Min watched her father disappear into the other room. This was the reaction she'd dreaded. No real expression about how he felt, but she could see the disappointment in his eyes as he turned. Steeling herself, she looked at her mother and brother before she followed in the general direction of her father.

She found him standing on the balcony of the deck beyond the living room. She gingerly stepped out onto the deck. "Father?"

Wei turned about, expressionless, "Yes, my daughter."

She stood beside her father at the railing. "Do you think this is easy for me father? To stand here, to see the disappointment in your eyes as I admit I've not lived up to your standards. Do you think I don't regret my actions three years ago? My choices six months ago? Why do you think I'm here father? Do you think I seek your blessing for my return to starfleet?"

Tears streamed down her face as she continued. "I'm here because I made mistakes, because I'm human. I came because I want you to see that I've learned from my mistakes, mistakes that will haunt me the rest of my life."

"All I ask for is acceptance of who I am. Your acceptance of who I am, faults and all."

Wei responded, "I see that you have learned, I see that you still make mistakes." He place his hands on her shoulders, keeping a distance. "Min, you are my daughter. You are my flesh and blood." A smile cracked as he continued, "You do not have my conviction nor desires in life . . . you have your own. And I raised you as such." His face became slightly sad, "I miss you so. I will always love you." and pulled her close to him.

Min let her father pull her into him. For the first time in a long time she felt a closeness with her father.

Yu Zhen who had followed the group into the living area could believe his own ears. He thought, Dad must be going soft.

Min slowly pulled away from her father. "I probably should sit down father. It's been a long day." Taking the hand he offered, Min stepped back into the Living Room and say down with the others. Breathing a sigh as she sank into the chair, Min closed her eyes for a second before opening them.

"I guess we have a lot to discuss."

With sympathetic eyes, Wei said, "You will rest first. Then we will have all the time we need." He glanced over his shoulder to find his wife looking down at them, "Mommy, you should get her to bed."

"I'll be fine father. I've just been on my feet all day."

Wei nodded, because he knew he was right, "Like I said, you should get to bed. Lay, sleep, or just rest." He stood, now with a more authoritive tone, "And then, we . . will . . .talk." looking down at his daughter, in more ways than one.

TBC...

JP by:

Lt j.g Min Zhao
Asst Operations Chief
USS Galileo

Yu Zhen Zhao
(NPC by Rhodes)

Shen
(NPC by Mialin)

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