Off On The Wrong Foot

Posted on Wed Sep 10th, 2025 @ 9:02pm by Lieutenant Alvy Vithu & Lieutenant Faith Hawkins & Lieutenant JG Genie Cleminson

1,903 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: R&R
Location: Deep Space 9

Her reunion with Genie confirmed, Faith had announced the news to her family, close friends only hours afterwards. She had set the record straight, confirming Genie was not entirely to blame for their separation. Nevertheless, the reaction from those informed was overwhelmingly positive. Meredith was excited she would have two mothers to look after her, Beatrice. She had no recollection of Genie, being a few months away from her second birthday when she departed. But, Meredith could sense the happiness, joy Genie also brought to Faith. There was also the chance for her to be a bridesmaid, like her cousins Heidi, Lydia had been at their Uncle Joseph's wedding.

The family had decided to go to the same bistro which Faith, Meredith and Beatrice had previously dined at with Matthew. Matthew was unable to join them for lunch, but had invited the family over for dinner later. An invite which had been accepted.

Meredith sat in the corner, aside Genie. Beatrice was positioned next to Faith. She, Genie, Meredith began to make their various selections from the menu. Meredith's usual, lasagna, was to be ordered, along with cheese and broccoli risotto for Faith and chicken parmesan for Genie. Genie insisted on treating the family, but Faith put up some resistance before agreeing to her partner's wishes.

"Right, I'll go and order." said Genie, departing. Faith watched her go, turning back to Meredith, Beatrice a few moments later. "Mummy?" asked Meredith, a couple of minutes later.

"Yes sweetheart?" replied Faith.

"Are you and Mummy Genie going to get married? I'd like to be a bridesmaid like Heidi and Lydia at Uncle Joseph's wedding." she asked, prompting Faith to reply. "We'll see."

---

"Was good seeing you again, Dax," Alvy said with a wave as she left the station counsellor's office. She had spent the last few days getting acquainted with Britannic, as well as reconnecting with some people she had known back during the Dominion War - stopping by Ezri's had been part of that routine.

Looking around to decide where to go next, a growling from her stomach interrupted her thoughts. It had been quite a few hours since breakfast, she mused, and decided to stop by a little bistro she had frequented back during the war, mostly to see if it was still there, and to grab a bite to eat if it was.

With relief, she found that it indeed still existed. As she stepped in through the door, she spotted some familiar faces - the engineer with her kids, whom she now knew to be the Chief Engineer, and with them, another woman in Starfleet uniform. Alvy herself was in civilian dress - a knee-length, black skirt, white button-dowm blouse, grey waistcoat, and her brown leather trenchcoat, with her matching bag by her side. To indicate her being a Starfleet officer, she had pinned her combadge to the lapel of her coat, along with her Lieutenant's pips.

Alvy shrugged, and walked over to the little family. "Lieutenant Hawkins, pleasure to see you again, and the kids" she greeted them. "Do you have room at your table for one more?"

"Oh. It's you." replied Faith, bluntly. She picked up the chalkboard with Hawkins - USS Britannic. written on it, showing it to Alvy. "Is this your name?" she asked.

The Lieutenant shook her head, wondering where the chief engineer was going with her line of enquiry.

"Then you're out of luck. I think they do take-out boxes."

Genie, who had been stood up retrieving a pre-prepared meal for Beatrice from Faith's travel bag, was keen to keep the vibe positive. "Faith, that's not very nice." she said, placing the container onto the table, then returning to the bag for the spoon. She looked at Alvy apologetically.

"Well, we don't. This is a table for four people." she countered, unimpressed their first lunch together as a family had been interrupted.

Alvy smirked and shrugged. "Well, Lieutenant Hawkins, I hope you are more amenable when we actually have to work together, considering both of us are department heads. In any case, I do apologise for interrupting you. Wouldn't want to deprive anyone of your pleasant company any further," she added with a sarcastic tone.

"They're my daughters and girlfriend you're talking about." replied Faith, standing up. She then lowered her tone, moving close enough to Alvy so only she could hear. "I suggest you go and find somewhere else before you end up wearing your dinner."

Genie had seen, heard enough. Especially when Meredith, Beatrice were present. "Calm down." she said, looking at each in turn. "Both of you."

Alvy glanced over at the other woman. "I am entirely calm. If I wasn't, you would know." She moved a step back from Faith and took a deep breath. "Now, Lieutenant. We are not on the ship, we are not on active duty. So, even as head of security of the vessel we are both posted on, I will forget about the fact that you just threatened me. I will not, however, do you that favour another time. I did not intend to disturb or cause offense, and for that I apologise. As I said, I hope we can work together as colleagues, even if we are not likely to ever become friends."

Genie looked at Faith, in such a manner to let her know the ball was in her court. "You sit, you eat. Then you go." replied Faith, after several seconds. While she didn't mind the asking of questions, Faith didn't like people she considered to be nosey. She glared at Alvy before sitting down, turning to Beatrice.

Alvy sighed, and shook her head, before turning to Faith's girlfriend. "I really did not want to disturb or offend. Maybe it's for the best if I just leave you to it. It has been a pleasure meeting you, though."

"There's clearly nowhere else for you to sit." said Genie, looking around at a very full bistro. There weren't any other free seats at other tables. At least on the tables she could see. "Please." Genie offered Alvy the chair which had been moved to the end of the table, to accommodate a high chair for Beatrice, who was now being fed by Faith.

"If you insist," Alvy finally conceded, and held out a hand. "I don't think we've been introduced. Lieutenant Alvy Vithu, chief of tactical and security on Britannic."

Whatever was going on between Faith, Alvy, it was something Genie would discuss with her girlfriend later. "Lieutenant Genie Cleminson. Starfleet Corps of Engineering." replied a much more sociable Genie, accepting the offered handshake. She then took a sip of her drink, while Meredith played a game on her PADD.

Alvy nodded at Genie while at the same time waving at a server to place an order. "I'll have an iced earl grey with lemon, and the menu for the daily specials," she requested, before turning back to her company. "So, an engineer, just like Hawkins then. Are you on a ship, or here on DS9?"

Hearing Alvy describe her as "Hawkins", rather than her first name, Faith felt being on surname terms was for the best. She scooped some more mashed carrots out of the container, then offered the spoon to Beatrice. "Computer specialist, to be specific." replied Genie, looking at something Meredith was showing her. "I move around a lot, but I'm currently posted to USS Liddell." a pause. "I may be transferring to Britannic temporarily, but Faith needs to ask her CO first. And I need to ask mine, actually..."

"I'm sure Hawkins here would be rather happy if you were assigned to our ship," Alvy commented, as the server brought over her drink and the menu. After a quick browse, she settled on a simple cream of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, before turning back to Genie. "I assume you two met in Starfleet, then?"

Following one server was another. They placed Meredith, Faith and Genie's meals down in front of them, in turn. It was good timing, as Beatrice had nearly finished her meal. "Yes." replied Faith, deciding to try and make an effort. "Luckily, we were posted together after we graduated." added Genie, who placed an unfolded napkin over Meredith's Garfield t-shirt to catch any errant lasagna. She then divided Meredith's lasagna into smaller portions, then made a start on her own meal.

"You're lucky," Alvy replied as the waiter returned with her tea and soup. "I've never had a proper relationship," she admitted, sampling the soup and smiling. "This is excellent. I've had my fair share of flings, of course, but never anything serious. Closest to serious was with one of my crewmates on my last posting, but the war put an end to that with some finality."

That was pretty much how Faith, Genie's relationship ended the first time round. The former was generally disinterested in making conversation with Alvy, but the latter made an effort. Genie was always the more sociable of the two women. "That's kind of how things ended for us the first time." replied Genie. "I was reassigned elsewhere. It left the path clear for Faith to become the hero of the hour." she added, giving her girlfriend a smile.

"I'd rather you didn't go around telling strangers about our private life, Genie." commented Faith, keen to dismiss what Genie was alluding to. Meanwhile, Meredith could sense her mother's dislike, distrust of Alvy. It was as clear as day.

Alvy nodded. "Hero of the hour, you call it. Being thrown into the grinder, more like. Let's not talk about that anymore." She sighed. "Britannic seems like a nice ship. So far, anyway. I'm looking forward to getting back out into space. I've been grounded long enough."

Faith gave a suspicious sideways glance to Alvy, before focusing on her meal. "Is that nice, Meri Moo?" she asked, her eldest daughter confirming her lasagna was to her liking. "Yes Mummy." confirmed Meredith, with a beaming smile.

"Yeah. Me too." replied Genie. "Except the starship I'm assigned to is well." a pause. "Broken. Temporarily, until we work out what's wrong with it." She could tell Faith was irritated by her eagerness to include Alvy. But it wasn't in Genie's nature to be rude, ignorant. On the other hand, Faith had a very cold side. Genie knew all too well. "Hopefully it won't be too long."

"Here's hoping. I have no idea how long Britannic is going to be on shore leave for, either." Alvy shrugged and finished off the last of her lunch. "This was lovely," she remarked, before turning back to Genie, with a quick sideways glance at Faith. She knew when she wasn't wanted, and certainly did not want to overstay her already limited welcome. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, but I should probably get going. You know how it is, places to be, things to do, people to meet." Ones that don't hate me just for purely existing, she added in her mind.

Faith chose not to acknowledge Alvy, much to Genie's disappointment. Whatever the issue was, it was evidently one sided from Faith's side. A question for later, perhaps. "It's been lovely to meet you too. I'm only on Britannic for a little while, but I'm sure we'll cross paths again." replied Genie.

 

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