Preview time.... Poor Renton and Dominic.

As they sat down to eat their lunch of beef and chicken fajitas, beans and rice, they all gave Miriam a confused look, especially Eureka and Anemone.

“Let me guess, ya’ll have never tried Mexican food?” she asked.

All of them nodded in response to her question, waiting intently for an explanation.

Miriam then continued to show how to put their meals together and eat it. As they started eating the kids and Senari began pelting Miriam with questions about the ship and her job aboard it. While Alexya, Senari, Maeter and Linck listened intently to Miriam’s every word, waiting patiently for each of her answers; Maurice split his attention between Miriam’s responses and the heated discussion taking place between his parents, aunt and uncle.

"Renton," asked Eureka, "when we promised each other to be together forever, did you mean more than just as a couple?"

“Well...” sputtered Renton.

“Yeah, so am I ever going to get a nice rock to wear Dominic, sweetie?" asked Anemone.

“Hold on a sec...” interjected Dominic.

“Yeah, I want you to be the father of my children in every sense Renton,” interjected Eureka.

“And you their uncle, Dominic” added Anemone.

Now slightly annoyed by not being able to get a word in edgewise, Renton looked over at Dominic, who nodded at him. Renton returned the nod with a wink, “So...” said Renton, forcing himself to remain calm and not grin, “what would be your dream proposal Eureka? Engagement ring?”

“Well... I...” Eureka blushed.

“Mind if I go first sis?” asked Anemone. Eureka nodded.

“Well...” Anemone paused to think, “I don’t want you to do the old storybook, drop-to-one-knee and ask me approch. I want it to be special, something I can remember forever. As for the ring, one-of-a-kind and reflective of what I mean to you. Also, a ring that is expensive and elegant would be nice,” she grinned widely, while Dominic faked a cringe.

“I agree with you sis on how they should ask us, definitely not something traditional or typical,” said Eureka confidently, “However, Renton, whatever you choose to give me for an engagement ring I will be happy with, I just want us to be a real family.”

Renton and Dominic looked at each other and swallowed hard, for they had realized that the bar had been set for their imminent proposal, and it was quite high.

“Oh, one more thing,” interjected Anemone, “Eureka and I want to have a double wedding.” Eureka nodded in agreement.

Noticing Renton and Dominic were now sweating bullets, Maurice spoke up, “Mama, Aunt Anemone, can we change the topic, Uncle Dominic and papa don’t look well.” Dominic and Renton gave Maurice a look as if to say, ‘Thanks for the save...’ Maurice just smiled.

“Well, if you want a change of topic,” said a voice walking up from behind Maurice, “I might be able to help you. I am Rabbi Simcha, and I was told the four of you wanted to speak with me.”

“Well, first of all, thanks for letting us participate in the service,” said Renton, “we really enjoyed it.”

“Yes,” chimed in Anemone, “everything was so beautiful; the prayers, the singing, the chanting and most of all the books and that large scroll that was read from. I loved it all!”

“ardon me for interrupting,” interjected Dominic, “but, can we keep these tiny hats we had to wear?”

“You most certainly may,” replied Simcha, “however, I don’t think you wanted to talk to me to ask if you could keep the kippot you got at services today. Am I right?”

“Yes,” replied Eureka calmly, “we wanted to request that you teach us about the Jewish faith and guide us through the conversion process so we may become members of the Jewish faith.”

“What, are you, crazy? You don't want to be Jewish, you don't even know the first thing about Judaism?” retorted Rabbi Simcha laughing as he turned around and walked away.

"What does he mean we don't know the first thing about being Jewish?" asked a confused Eureka.

"Well, we have only attended one service..." commented Dominic.

"That doesn't mean he should be able to just reject us like that!” interjected a severally irked Anemone.

“Maybe we should try again another time, such as next time we go?” suggested Renton.

“Oh Renton!” expressed Eureka gleefully as she hugged him. “That is just one of many reasons I love you so much, you always know what to do.”

“Well, I try,” Renton blushed.

“Well, if the two of you are willing to try again,” declared Dominic, as he turned to look at Anemone, watching her nod at him in agreement, “then so are we.”

Anemone looked at the clock on the wall, her eyes going wide as she read the time, “Oh Hell! We are going to be late!” Eureka glared at Anemone, “Sorry sis, old habits die hard I guess. Be that as it may, we need to get going; we were invited to that party. Miriam, Eureka, we need to finish and leave!”

Eureka nodded in agreement, “Maeter finish your lunch,” she said calmly, “we have somewhere we need to be.”

Miriam looked at the clock, she froze in shock, “Oye, come on Alexya, finish up your lunch, desert is waiting, we can’t be late.”

“Where are we going?” asked Alexya.

“Yeah, why the rush mama?” questioned Maeter.

“We have a party to go to,” replied Anemone.

“Can we go?” asked Linck, looking at his mother and then at Maurice.

Eureka got up and walked over to Linck, kneeling down next to the chair he was sitting in. She knelt down so she was at eye level with him, “No, you and Maurice are going to spend the afternoon with papa and Uncle Dominic, this is just for us girls.”

“But... mama...” Linck was on the verge of tears.

“No buts Linck,” said Eureka soothingly, wiping away his tears, “you are getting to be a big boy now. So I need you to listen me and understand what I am telling you. I promise to spend some time with you later.”

“You promise...” asserted Linck.

“I promise,” she said, looking her youngest son right in the eye.

“Come on mama, let’s go get some ice cream and talk about girl stuff,” said Maeter happily, pulling her mother from the table.

“Alright, alright...” said Eureka, “see you later this afternoon dear,” she gave Renton a kiss on the cheek and left with the others.

"I know you rather go with your mama Link," said Dominic, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder, "however, your papa and I need Maurice's and your help with something. Can you promise to keep what I am going to tell you a secret?”

"What is it Uncle Dominic?" asks Maurice. "We promise, right Linck?" Linck nodded in agreement, a wide grin on his face.

“Well, your papa and I,” said Dominic, slightly nervous, “are going to propose to your mama and aunt.”

“Huh?” a confused look came to Linck’s face. “ropose?”

“Wait... you are going to...” Maurice was in such a state of shock he could not finish his sentence.

“Yes,” said Renton reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small box, “Uncle Dominic and I are going to ask Aunt Anemone and Mama to marry us.” He opened the small ring box. “That is why we got these rings; however, you must not tell anyone about this, not even your sister or Alexya.”

Maurice and Linck were speechless, their jaws hanging wide open in shock.

“So that means...” gasped Maurice.

“...what?” gasped Linck finishing his brother’s sentence.

“That I will officially be your uncle,” stated Dominic.

“And of course I will officially be your papa,” added Renton.

“Well, I for one do not think that the young ones need to participate in that discussion,” said a voice coming from behind, it was Axel. “Besides, the kids need to start their training, a Lieutenant Commander Ryoko Zharram and Jean Trafel have taken Alexya and Maeter from the party to go begin their combat training.”

“And what about Maurice and Linck?” asked Renton.

Axel stepped aside to reveal a man in a steel wheel chair flanked on either side by lieutenants. “This is Lieutenant Commander J.C. Spitz,” said Axel, motioning to the man in wheelchair.

"With your permission Lieutenant Thurston, I would like to take your boys off your hands to start their training," requested Spitz, shaking hands with Dominic and Renton. "These are my Lieutenants, Frank "GJ" Thompson and Calvin Hollis," They shook hands with Dominic and Renton as well. “Since no one is objecting, I'll take the little squirts out of your hands.”

“What are we going to learn?” asked Maurice.

“Are we going to have fun?” wondered Linck aloud.

“Maurice, you and your brother are going to learn close quarters combat among other things, and Linck...” said Frank, a grin forming on his face, “well, it depends on what you think is considered ‘fun’, well at least for me it is fun."

"If you have half as much fun with it as I do Frank then these kids should take a liking to it pretty quickly,” added Lt. Hollis. “Are you two ready?"

“Yeah, we are, see you later papa,” sang Maurice as he and Linck following Spitz and his lieutenants out of the mess hall.

“Well, what shall we do now Dominic?” asked Renton,

“I say a nap or tour of the ship,” chuckled Dominic.

“I think not,” interjected Holland, taking a seat at their table, “you two have an appointment to keep.”

“And I’ll be damned if my grandson is going to skip out on an important appointment,” added Axel in a sharp tone.

“Oh,... yeah,” said Dominic, smiling nervously, “we have an appointment with a Lt. Jane Avram.”

“Well, we should not keep her waiting,” said Holland, and with that Axel, Sumner and Holland led Dominic and Renton out of the mess hall and down the corridor.

The following members have or are already helping out:


Friends and Great Artists:


Clubs:


Pending Clubs: