Letters Home

[Tyra Crawford]

== For Miller ==

[Aeryn Miller]

== Chief Science Officer's Quarters - Deck 03 ==

In the midst of organising the BBQ, her regular duties and life in general, Aeryn always made time to send letters home, not only to her parents who still lived at the research station she grew up on, but also to other relatives and friends. If anything, the redhead cherished the opportunity to keep those connections alive, particularly with the life she now led on Artemis, knowing that there might come a day when she wouldn't be able to send them. As morbid as that seemed, it was also part of her reality; life came and went, and in her line of work, it wasn't always guaranteed you would make it home.

Sometimes Aeryn liked to get her thoughts down on old-fashioned paper, depending on her mood. Other times, and mostly, she would dictate what she wanted to say onto her trusty PADD, double-checking what was said until she was satisfied it was good to be submitted and sent. Sure, she would love to say everything in person, but this was the next best thing, and hopefully next leave she could make the trip home or be fortunate enough for her parents to visit her.

That thought alone brought a smile to Aeryn's face as she grabbed a drink, then settled onto the sofa to begin what had become an equally important part of her schedule.

" Begin recording".


" Hey Mum and Dad,

I wanted to send this now before things got a little crazy, what with leave coming up, although you'll hear from me again while I'm in the Lake District. I have to admit I'm looking forward to seeing Gray and Mitchell again, as it's been far too long, and to be Aeryn without the uniform for a little while. Thank you for sending them the recipe for proper Scottish tattie bread. They told me that they've been practising ready for my arrival, and I can't wait to have a proper home-cooked Scottish breakfast.

Aside from getting ready for what should be a good time for everyone, I know it'll be good for me regardless, as I'll be honest, I'm still struggling following the break-up with Beka. I know, I know, last time I said that I was okay, because I didn't want you to worry about me, but I realise that I can't keep it all bottled up, and I should have known better, especially after how I was when Merle died. But I have to be a grown-up about it all, and as much as I wanted it to work, it wasn't, and hopefully we can get to a place where we can be friends.

It'll be less awkward that way and better for everyone, considering I still have to work with her, and despite what happened, I still care about her and trust her to look after me should I need her medical skills. Okay, I'll stop because this is supposed to be a happy letter, but then you've both taught me well, not to be afraid to open up, and it's something I need to keep reminding myself about".

Aeryn paused for a moment, deciding to change the direction of the letter.

" How are things with your latest project?, I've got a couple of personal experiments going well in the lab. I'll attach the latest data with this letter, as I'm hopeful that my variant strawberries will flourish better than last time.

I think that's everything, and I'll write again soon.

Love you both

Aeryn".

[Aeryn Miller]

The Old Cauldron - Grasmere

Day before the BBQ

Her stay at Gray and Mitchell’s had been pleasant so far, then again Aeryn didn't expect anything less when it came to the couple's hospitality. Spoiled was one way to describe it, and the redhead had enjoyed every second of it. Now that everything was in place and the setup almost complete for the BBQ tomorrow, Aeryn had retreated to her room to shower and change before dinner and maybe a couple of hard earned drinks.

However there was one thing she wanted to do, something she hadn't done for some time and it was long overdue. Writing to Merle’s parents had become a regular thing from the moment her and the Bajoran engineer’s relationship had gotten serious and even after his untimely and unfortunate passing, Aeryn had kept up with that tradition, especially since they still  considered her as family. Knowing they cared meant a lot to the scientist who had accidentally become lax in her correspondence with them, and now she had the perfect opportunity to make that right.

Halfway through getting ready and with time on her side, Aeryn grabbed her PADD from the bedside table, found a comfortable spot near the window and started her letter.

“Hi Jayla and Maxen,

First off I'd like to apologise for how long it's been since I last contacted you both, and how I promise to be better at it. I hope that you're both well and that the family are too. I also hope that the season has been kind to you, and I'll never forget the time Merle brought me to help with the harvest, and the kindness you showed me.

I'll always remember those times fondly and the times since because I do intend to come visit as soon as I'm able.

Since I last wrote to you, I've been promoted to Lieutenant Commander and made the switch from Security to Science. I'm sure you won't be too surprised to hear this but in my heart I know I've made the right decision for me and I love being back in a lab properly rather than it just being a hobby.

That's to say it hasn't come without its challenges, but you know me I face them head-on and don't suffer fools gladly. Wherever Merle is I know he's always watching and how proud he'd be of me. I still have a huge respect for his culture and beliefs and I don't think they'll ever leave me.

May the prophets continue to watch over you all.

Warmest love

Aeryn”.

Satisfied with how it turned out, Aeryn sent it and put the PADD back where she had gotten it, before she finished getting ready, and then headed out to meet her friends for dinner.

Firs

[Aeryn Miller]

Dinner had been a lot of fun, then again, Aeryn didn't expect anything less when it came to the Old Cauldron or her friend's knack for hospitality. For as long as the redhead could remember, she had never had a bad meal at the pub, even before she became close friends with Gray and Mitchell. What she did know, however, was that she couldn't eat another thing before they inevitably moved to the bar for a couple more drinks, sharing stories, laughing and joking as if Aeryn hadn't been away from them. This is what she liked, to be reminded of the good times, to take some time out from her busy life, and her friends had made sure it had happened.

By the time the scientist returned to her room, albeit a little tipsy, Whiskers had made himself comfortable at the top of the bed, looking up at his owner, who promptly petted him before she undressed and put on her pyjamas. Sliding under the bed covers, Aeryn got herself comfortable, intending to read until she noticed that she had a message. Picking up her PADD, Aeryn accessed her messages, her eyes becoming brighter when she realised who it was from.

[Hey Aeryn,
I hear from a good source that you're back in Grasmere, which is perfect timing, as we're planning on playing at the Cauldron at the end of the week. No doubt we've got lots to catch up on, and I'm sure we can also persuade you to join in on a song or two.
See you in a few days
Rayna]

Rayna Miren was another old friend, and by extension, so was the rest of RavenWolf, the band Rayna had started as a hobby and who had persuaded Aeryn to help out one summer during her second year at the Academy. Aeryn also didn't have to guess too much as to who the good source was, and if this meant that she got to see them during her stay, then she was all for it. With that in mind, Aeryn quickly wrote back before she settled down to read.

[Aeryn Miller]

The Old Cauldron - Grasmere 

The reunion between Aeryn, Rayna and the rest of RavenWolf had been a riot from start to finish. From the moment they had arrived, Aeryn felt as though time had gone backwards, the only reminder was how everyone had aged but even then it wasn't a conversation breaker as they were too busy catching up to give a damn. A trip into Carlisle had also been arranged, albeit last minute thanks to an outfit issue, so off Aeryn went with Rayna, alongside more conversation, a lunch stop and the kind of gossip reserved for girls only.

Returning to the pub with several purchases, Aeryn put them in her room before joining the band for a soundcheck. Again it didn't feel as though the group had spent years apart, laughing, joking and genuinely having fun. Dinner followed with the boys cooking up a storm that definitely soaked up the alcohol until it was time to get ready. That involved Aeryn relocating to Rayna’s room, emerging an hour later transformed into a rock chick, looking so different in a leather skirt, blue ripped top complete with harness, heels and fierce makeup.

Down in the bar there were a couple of double takes, causing the redhead to grin before meeting up with the others. As promised Aeryn got to sing one song towards the end of the second set and it was absolutely electrifying, pushing the star fleet officer firmly out of her comfort zone after being out of practice for so long.

When the gig was over and the pub emptied, the band, Aeryn, Gray and Mitchell drank and talked to the small hours.

[Aeryn Miller]

The Old Cauldron - Grasmere

It was late afternoon before Aeryn emerged from a surprisingly peaceful slumber, despite the amount of alcohol she had consumed the previous evening and into the small hours. The auburn-haired one-off rock chick had fully expected to wake up with a stinking hangover, but thankfully, as she pulled back the bed covers and stretched, the room didn't immediately start to spin. To test her theory further, Aeryn stood up from the bed, and so far she didn't fall back down, until she searched her memories and realised she'd been smart enough to drink plenty of fluids and not the alcoholic kind before finally falling asleep.

Of course, this could be some fluke, and it all depended on what happened when she actually ate something. Speaking of which, her stomach decided to rumble loudly at that precise moment, and who was Aeryn to ignore her obvious appetite?

She could go down to the bar and find a table, but why rush about and get ready when she could take advantage of room service, a facility that her friends kept reminding her that they offered, and she had yet to take them up on it. So that's what she was going to do, as she activated the comm panel in her room, knowing the menu by heart and ordered an All Day Breakfast complete with a pot of tea and a glass of orange juice. Satisfied with her choice and putting on a complimentary robe over her Tholian silk nightie, Aeryn settled down on the sofa and awaited the arrival of breakfast even though it was later than she would normally have such a meal.

Then she could plan what to do with the rest of her day, but for now she picked up her personal PADD and checked her messages, not surprised to find one from Rayna along with photos taken the previous evening.

Replying to her friend, Aeryn then moved on to the next message needing her attention, agreeing to meet with one of her cousins, Jeremy, whom she hadn't seen for some time.

[Aeryn Miller]

After demolishing her late breakfast and enjoying a bubble bath because she rarely got to do such things, Aeryn felt refreshed and looked far more like herself despite the overindulgence of the previous evening. She might not have had a hangover, but she had to admit to overdoing things a little regardless of her being on leave. While the flame-haired Scot never regretted much, she had to remember that she wasn't exactly getting any younger even if she did take care of herself. Sitting in front of the dressing table mirror. Aeryn took a moment to look at her reflection, thinking how much she had endured lately, wondering how much more she could take.

It was never an easy question to answer, but in retrospect, did she really want to answer it? Life was a careful balance, especially when you worked for Star Fleet, and if she let herself overthink things for too long, then what?

This was the most opportune time to re-evaluate her goals, to think about what she wanted out of life; now she had turned thirty and not just her professional aims either. Her role as Science Chief had its ups and downs, but she had so much to do and give that in reality she wasn't particularly worried about that aspect of her life. Science was always going to be there; she was always going to strive for the best and expect the same from her team. She had a problem child, so to speak; however, it was being dealt with.

Aeryn had friends, people she respected and a good job, so why did there seem to be a hole she couldn't quite fill? Did she have that with Beka? She thought she did, but now she wasn't so sure, and maybe she should just let herself enjoy life and see what happened.

Realising she was about to slip into uncomfortable territory or simply thinking too much, Aeryn got up and thought about getting dressed properly; perhaps seeking out her friends was exactly what she needed.

With that in mind, Aeryn went over to the closet and picked out a strapless dark floral maxi dress, smiling since it just so happened to be one of her new purchases. Decision made, Aeryn got dressed, leaving her long flame-coloured hair loose before exiting her room, to go and find her friends in the bar below.

[Aeryn Miller]

== Orrest Head, Windermere - Two Days Later ==

Aeryn didn't have to travel far to meet up with her cousin Jeremy, and since the Millers always had a keen interest in hiking, the location for their reunion was, to put it mildly, perfect. After the excesses of the last couple of days, getting out and doing something she hadn't done yet had come at the right time for the redhead, as she waited by the bottom of the trail that would take them to their destination of Orrest Head, which would give them a 360-degree view of the lake. The old railway station was now more of a museum, giving tourists and locals insight into the town's history, and Aeryn loved it.

She'd also packed and prepared accordingly, opting for comfortable khaki shorts, a matching tank top and hiking boots. The experienced hiker also carried a backpack containing all the supplies she would likely need and hopefully not need, as well as a shirt and waterproof jacket, in case she got cold or it decided to rain. It wasn't surprising either for her to be the one to arrive first, something Aeryn preferred unless someone or something urgently needed her attention. A trait that had been given free rein since she started leave, and she doubted it would change anytime soon.

Checking the chronometer on her wrist, Aeryn thought back to the last time she had seen her eldest cousin, who had chosen to follow the family tradition of farming, upholding the ancient practice of processing grain, though with a little modern help. Like many families, they had moved with the times, finding better ways, but often the old practices never truly went away, and that's what Jeremy prided himself on. So taking the time to meet her in one of their favourite places meant the world to the younger Miller, because even though she didn't get to Earth as often as she would have liked, family was still important.

" There ye are", came the broad Scottish brogue she had missed, turning to see Jeremy heading her way, with his closely cropped red hair and rugged smile plastered on his similar pale features. Jeremy was only four years older than Aeryn, but he hadn't changed a bit since she had last seen him, and the two of them remained close; then again, the same could be said for all of the Miller cousins, despite the distance between them.

" Ye need talk, I've been waiting ages", she teased, before the two shared a warm and welcoming hug.

" Got to keep ye on yer toes, cousin", he teased back, letting her go with a wink.

" Never change Jer, never change".

Jeremy smiled, and Aeryn looked forward to catching up with him properly, as letters and messages were never quite the same as seeing and talking to a person in real life.

" Let's get started, shall we? I've got a flask of the good stuff for ye when we reach the top".

" Ye know me so well, so let's go".

[Aeryn Miller]

The hike up till the half way mark had been spectacular and then some as the two cousins spoke about everything and anything. While she could have easily accomplished this hike alone, and had done it many times, Aeryn was glad to have some company, especially with someone with a similar interest. Although the redhead did make a mental note to recreate the lakes in the form of a holodeck programme once she returned to the ship. Something she often did, to not only remind herself of favourite places but also as another form of escape that couldn't be resolved by the gym, the shooting range or the lounge.

She already had an idea of who might like to participate in such a programme with her, but for now Aeryn was more than content with the real thing as Jeremy stopped up ahead so they could take a small break. “ I'm glad we did this,” he remarked as he sat down on a raised flat stone, taking out a flask that Aeryn doubted contained water.

“ Me too, don't get me wrong I love what I do, but getting to walk on real grass is something else entirely”.

“ Then I hope you get to do it more often” Jeremy remarked softly offering his younger cousin the flask.

Regardless of the contents Aeryn took a decent swig, relishing the burn and familiarity of the family's scotch recipe.

“ Damn I forgot how good this is, and yes that would be nice”.

Easier said than done as Aeryn didn't know when they would return to Earth next but there was also no point worrying over it or making empty promises either.

“ This is my latest batch and I'll have to send you a crate before you go”.

Aeryn smiled at Jeremy’s offer thinking it would be nice to have that little piece of home amongst the stars. Handing the flask back to Jeremy, Aeryn sat beside him, the two of them sharing it for a little longer before resuming their hike. The alcohol acted like an extra boost of energy, something Aeryn appreciated as they walked.

[Aeryn Miller]

It suddenly occurred to Aeryn, once the pair resumed walking, that Jeremy had brought out the whiskey earlier than he'd promised, unless her cousin was hiding something else inside his backpack. Then again, it shouldn't have surprised the redhead when it came to the family blend, and how their shared history was to be honoured and spoken of with nothing but pride. A little reminder of home, of her roots, was welcomed even if she didn't get to visit Scotland as often as she would like. Maybe that could be rectified before she received her recall orders, and if not, then at least she had reconnected with Jeremy, which was just as good.

The added fire in her belly did little to deter Aeryn from her goal, nor did it slow her down except for the odd pause to take in the natural beauty that surrounded them. Jeremy's holo-camera proved to be a great addition to the hike, with a promise to forward the images to her, so she could use them as a reference point for her intended new holo-programme. Sure, she could have brought one herself, but it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, because sometimes even she wasn't a hundred percent perfect, and that was more than okay.

Aeryn had learned the hard way, and after everything she'd endured from the Academy to her current posting, she was allowed to be less than perfect, to feel, to love, to embrace the anger because at the end of it all, she was human, and her failures were equally as important as her triumphs. They made her who she was, taught her how to be, and Aeryn had embraced it with grace and humility.

" So, what's it like being out in space most of the time?" Jeremy enquired, bringing his cousin out of her reverie.

" We're not constantly fighting for our souls, and more often than not it's pretty normal, but I wouldn't change a single thing".

It was a lot more than that; however, Aeryn didn't want to give everything away, as yes, sometimes it was pretty straightforward and a lot of it involved things you couldn't really talk about, but it was still some semblance of the truth.

" No, I didn't think you would, Cousin. It all sounds glamorous, but I know it's where you belong".

" You're not wrong; it is where I belong".

[Aeryn Miller]

Again, time seemed to jump forward without her realising, which was never a bad thing if you really thought about it. Taking it more as a sign that she was enjoying herself, which she was. Who could dislike fresh air, good company and being surrounded by nature? Not Aeryn, not when this was her favourite thing to do, that didn't involve her love life or lack thereof. Okay, maybe one of her favourite things, as she had plenty of hobbies, and she also couldn't ignore the fact that the hike could count as a field trip thanks to her love of Botany. She didn't need to tell Jeremy about it, because her cousin understood, and often considered himself to be a scientist when it came to brewing Whiskey. She wasn't going to tell him anything different, as she had never been able to master the family recipe.

Something's were best left to other people; that way she got to be a recipient of such a product, and she looked forward to having her own stash aboard the ship. Rather than stop for another break, the pair pushed on without effort to reach their final destination, overlooking the valley below and the mountains ahead of them. There was nothing but green everywhere, with the occasional sound of birds or wildlife rustling through the trees.

Taking advantage of a spot nestled between two tall Oak trees, Aeryn sat down and opened her bag, ready to enjoy lunch packed affectionately by her friends, who hadn't forgotten Jeremy either.

" I hope you're hungry, as I think Grey and Mitchell have gone a little overboard", she said, unable to hide the grin upon seeing exactly what had been made for them.

" Nah, they're just making sure that you're fed", Jeremy joked, half-serious as he too opened his bag.

Once everything was laid out, Aeryn couldn't help but smile as this would be quite the feast, perfect for what they had accomplished so far, alongside more of the whiskey before they even thought about the walk back.

" Okay, you're right, and let's enjoy it all. I also hope you're able to stay over tonight, so you don't have to rush getting back home".

" Already sorted, Cuz, I've got a room booked".

" Excellent, more drinks for us later".

[Aeryn Miller]

Lunch with a view had been an enjoyable affair for both Aeryn and Jeremy, bonding further over family tales and life in general, even if the younger Miller spent most of her time in outer space. That was the beauty of being close to her cousins regardless of when she got to see them, because theirs was a bond that couldn't be broken, just because she wasn't always in the same place as they were. Letters also helped, keeping her grounded while also appreciating how lucky she was to have family who understood her and accepted her choices when her life could have been so much different. Sometimes Aeryn wondered what her life would look like if it hadn't been for her experiences, thoughts that never strayed for too long, as she knew how fortunate she was to live through them, and today's adventure had only reinforced that.

Once lunch was over and following a suitable break so they didn't end up with cramps, the two Millers made their descent, choosing the opposite trail that would take them back to the heart of the village. Time didn't matter, and they made good progress even after a filling lunch and some more whiskey. A sensible approach had been taken, and besides, it just meant they could imbibe further in the comfort of the pub, if they so wished.

Jeremy was himself, making Aeryn laugh as he had always done, and Aeryn knew she wouldn't forget this visit in a hurry, taking comfort from it and the chance to catch up on family news, and from the other reunions she'd experienced during her leave. The journey back to her temporary home was quicker somehow, and even though her feet and legs would likely ache from the exertion, she took it as a good thing as they approached the pub and separated briefly to wash up and change.

A shower never failed to make it worth the effort, and after changing into a simple sundress, Aeryn was ready to do more catching up and enjoy the rest of the day.