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Chapter 20 : Choices
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2023-07-01 14:04:35Related chapters
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 21 : A Walk Down Memory Lane
Theodora's POVMake amends with dad? Way easier said than done. He was pretty adamant that I shamed his entire military career with my actions and he didn't even want to look at my face ever again. I could only imagine how my mom cried and fought with him when she came home and I wasn't there.But if you asked me, it should be Dad making amends. Not me.I hadn't seen my mom in years at this point and I missed her so much. My dad, too. But I didn't want to visit them if they made me feel unwanted. Daxton and I walked to our family's farm while Mads and Benji borrowed my dad's massive cyber-rover to tow the ship into the barn. Neither Daxton nor I were in any physical shape to do that. Thankfully, I was feeling better. Breathing better. The advanced healing serum was working wonders on me. "How's Mom?" I asked as we continued our walk. The farm wasn't far and I felt like the boys and Ellie could use the ATV more than us right now."You're about to see her," Daxton rebutted.
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 22 : Lashing Out
Theodora's POVDinner was silent except for the scraping of silverware on my mom's good plates. Awkward. My entire crew lined the dining room table, aside from Mads, who took his portion to the barn to get a head start on repairs. Javier was sitting between Ellie and Benji, tentatively eating dinner. Cutting into the roast and vegetables. It smelled delicious, but I was too busy staring my dad down. Waiting for him to say something, but he never did. His icy gaze fixed on his plate, jaw strained tight even as he bit down on a forkful of food. I could practically hear his teeth clack against the silverware.Oh, fuck, he looked pissed. Just as angry as he was when he kicked me out.I knew coming here was a bad idea. We should've just stayed in the wreckage. I would have figured it out. But I knew my momma would be heartbroken if she knew I was so close and didn't visit. But I didn't want to have my father look at me like I was a disappointment again. I just knew he w
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 23 : Take The Edge Off
Theodora's POVMy heart was still pumping wildly, stuck in fight or flight as I stepped into the side door of the barn. A stack of scrap from Peacemaker piled in the corner. The smell of oil and hay. Peacemaker barely fit under the high ceilings. My dad typically worked on smaller crafts, but thankfully there was enough room to get the job done.And his hydrolift was strong enough to prop our ship a few feet in the air.Sparks flew from underneath the undercarriage, and the sound of a torch zapping drew my gaze to where Mads was. There was an empty plate on the workbench.At least he was able to eat before burying himself in work. My shoulders were still shaking, coming off the adrenaline. But it still fired through my system, making me jittery. The zapping stopped as Mads kicked himself out from under the ship, twisting off the blowtorch. He took off his welding mask, smoke clinging to his skin. His tattoos were glistening with sweat, clinging to his skin in droplets aro
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 24 : Unexpected
Javier's POVI felt useless. Sitting awkwardly in my seat as Theo fought with her father. Dark brown eyes glistened with tears that threatened to spill. Her father, Forest, shot back with some bullshit about giving up his career to take care of his kids.How he gave up everything for her. But that wasn't her fault. In fact, I got the impression her father didn't know the whole story. The way the past came back to haunt her. I got a taste of it after Zeus 9, but now, I saw her crumble completely. Her eyes became clouded with pure horror. A type of terror she couldn't hide.She closed her eyes tight, knuckles white with how hard she was gripping herself. The past had come back for her again, sucking her into an abyss. I wanted to do something. Help her as I watched her disappear behind her eyes. But I didn't know how to help her. In my one hundred and forty-six years, I had never seen something so horrifying it threw me into a spiral. I didn't envy it. But there w
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 25 : Shooting Range
Theodora's POVShame mottled my face. I can't believe Javier walked in on me and Mads. Fuck, how embarrassing. We were walking down a moonlit path, away from the homestead, down to a creek behind the barn I'd use for target practice when my dad first gave me his colt.I was sixteen and while most teenage girls on Gaea wanted a rover, I got a six-shooter. Nearly an antique that I took pride in shining and fixing so it would shoot. My dad told me it was one of the few things left from our earth's ancestors and he had been waiting to give it to me.Now that six-shooter was a key part of my identity. Something I poured my time and energy into master. I glanced over at Javier, his bulky shoulders, the line in his forehead."Javier…" I started, unsure where to take the conversation."How long have you and Mads been together?" he asked. "Were you together when you came onto me on Ilios?"Right to it then. "No. Mads and I have history, sure, but we broke it off before I met you," I
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 26 : A Broken Snowglobe
Theodora's POVThe next few days were all about fixing Peacemaker. Mads and Javier worked on securing the engine properly since they were the only two physically strong enough to move that massive hunk of metal around. Meanwhile, the other four of us secured the lights and used my dad's rivet gun to mend the panels to create a tight seal that would withstand the pressure of space travel. Fuck, it wasn't a minor job. The Pantomath wrecked Peacemaker, but I wasn't going to let him win. At the least, I had a leg up on him. Chances are that he didn't know about the Lunar Ravagers and was looking for us to leech information about Sol.He didn't know everything, and he would piggyback off me if he could.But, it was only a matter of time until he found where we crash-landed and I wanted to be long gone by then. If we were there, then there would be no reason for him to bring my parents into it. But regardless, that was a risk that I informed my mom about. I didn't want to leav
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 27 : Save Them
Theodora's POVMy mom outstretched a coffee to me. I took the hot beverage, bringing it to my lips to warm my insides. I sighed happily, enjoying it during the cold morning. I wore my leather jacket, and holster on my hip as usual. We would be leaving any day now. Only a few minor fixes. And with my dad's electrical experience, repairs were moving much faster. It almost felt like I was a teenager again, fixing up a ship with my dad. Comms were up and we could use the frequency from my ship to radio in on the wavelength if anyone needed anything. Definitely saved me the trouble of looking around the homestead for my brother. And saved Daxton the embarrassment of having his sister walk in on him and Ellie.I don't know what really happened between them, but I noticed the fleeting glances. The indigo flush on Ellie's cheeks. The handholding. All toothachingly sweet. So damn cute. I was happy for them.My own relationship…relationships, were slightly more complicated. I hadn
Last Updated : 2023-07-01The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 28 : Apex Predators
Mads's POVI never wanted Theo to look at me like that. Hands balled into fists. Shoulders quaking. Tears streaming down red-tinted cheeks. It killed me. My throat felt thick as she screamed at me, the pain she couldn't control just under the surface.I could still feel the sensation of where she shoved me, imprinted onto my chest. She didn't hurt me, only used me as an outlet for her anger. Better me than anyone else.Because I could take Theo's anger.Daxton was still reeling from the realization that he left his parents behind. Almost lost his sister too if I had let her jump back into the barn. I saw Theo staring down at the hay, hand on her pistol, a resigned look in her eye.She would jump down there, fill herself with holes, and throw herself on the sword if it meant anyone else had a chance. Her sacrificial nature was sometimes her worst characteristic. Even if I knew she had the best intentions, she didn't think them through.Because if she had landed in the hay, a
Last Updated : 2023-07-01
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The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 51 : Epilogue
Theodora's POVLife was so different now.It felt like yesterday I was dodging military phasers and jumping off skyscrapers. Fighting with my dad. Avoiding Mads. Lying to my brother about my relationships. Having flashbacks every other day from wartimes.But now I was sitting around a fire pit on my family farm while we passed around a bottle of starshine and reminisced about odd jobs. Mads to my left. Javi to my right. Daxton across from me laughing about something with my dad, arm around Ellie.Benji complimented my mom's cooking. Mads joined the conversation, both dimples proud and on display.Unguarded. Just as visibly happy as I felt inside. Playfully nudging Ellie in the ribs and making her release a big belly laugh.My heart flushed with warmth. I loved him so much.When we arrived at Gaea, we made good on our promise, fixing my dad's barn. All six of us helped my dad with beams and massive hunks of metal. Now that it's fixed, Mads and Javi help my dad with his ser
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 50 : Welcome to the Family
Javier's POVThe following week went by far too fast. Every night I lay with Theo in my arms. Her breath warmed my chest in little puffs. Mads was finally sleeping too, falling into a regular pattern, one hand clasped over my shoulder while he slept with his face buried in Theo's hair.We would stay like that all day if we could. As each day went by, Theo held on tighter, unconsciously showing me how terrified she was of me leaving. Mads became more distant. Withdrawing as he usually did when he was upset. In private, while Theo was piloting, he tried to convince me to stay.Telling me how much Theo needed me as if I didn't already know. How much he needed me. It wasn't too long ago that I claimed Mads didn't have a romantic bone in his body, but now I'm learning very quickly that he did. He had a soft, molten center becoming more apparent every day.And while I loved him for it, I had responsibilities on Ilios. I was a high-ranking military officer with a shit-ton of paperw
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 49 : In the Dead of Night
Theodora's POVWhile that wasn't completely uncharted with an occasional finger playing with the opening every once in a while, I'd never accommodated something as big as Javier or Mads. My eyes flickered down to their cocks, clearly erect and excited for me. My sex tingled, flexing with the desire to be filled. Tight. But that also really scared me. I was the type of girl to try anything once. But ass play was not something I ever really considered delving into.But I'd be lying if I said it didn't intrigue me. I'd heard it could be great if I had the right partners. That trust went a long way. And between Javier and Mads, I trusted them wholly, with everything I had. My body clenched down like a vise, snapping my legs shut almost instinctually. Javi withdrew, waiting patiently even though his cock said otherwise. "I won't do anything you don't want to," he promised. But I knew that already. They respected my boundaries. Even the very few times I said my safeword, usually
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 48 : Restless
Theodora's POVI wasn't ready for sex a few days ago. Everything felt so fragile. New all over again. I had to learn to trust Mads and Javier again. But on the bright side, now I knew our relationship was more than physical.I found myself adoring how sweet Javier was with Sol. How much he cared about his niece and she clearly noticed the change in temperament too. Mads had taken a few massive steps forward to make good on his apologies with the crew. The fact that he even gave Benji a handshake, and returned a hug from Ellie was not lost on me. He'd even playfully bump Sol on the shoulder when she was in his way.He was trying. Working through his own trauma just as hard as we worked together.Those touches meant something to him and it made me feel so warm inside to see.Daxton was starting to come around. Especially now that I didn't feel the need to hide my adoration for my lovers. And Daxton could see how much they meant to me. When we were in open space, Ben
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 47 : While It Lasts
Theodora's POVThe fact that I could practically feel when Mads and Javier were nearby was really fucking weird. The strain of our physical distance from each other was relaxing even if the emotional tension was still there. It killed me that I couldn't see them. I couldn't let them in.If I did, I'd crumble into a pathetic sobbing mess because I missed them so damn much. The worst fucking bout of homesickness I'd ever felt. Funny. I thought Peacemaker was home. The ship I loved so much, the same one Javier called a rust bucket. A sharp laugh left my lips, followed by a hollow feeling in my chest. My eyes felt so puffy, sore, and red. I couldn't stand Javier back then. My attraction to him was skin-deep. An annoying sexual ache with pent-up frustration from my breakup with Mads. Simple as hell. It wasn't until after I saved him from the Pantomath that it started to feel more serious. That I started to notice how deep it ran. And started to finally notice how Mads looked
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 46 : The Sun, The Moon, and The Earth
Theodora's POVI hadn't seen Mads or Javier in days, almost a week now if I was being honest. Confining myself to the ship, licking my wounds so to speak. My body still ached, bruises yellowing. The welts on my back were now a light pink instead of brick red. Healing fast with Ellie's help, but I still felt damaged.Who was I kidding? I was damaged.Sol was first to come on board the Peacemaker, Atlas close behind. She was going to be bunking with Ellie which made the most sense because they were close in age. I pretended not to notice how Sol looked at Atlas, standing in the sun, beaming at the promise of the future.The girl had a crush. Clear as day. I almost expected her to get on her toes and kiss him goodbye, but she didn't. Instead, she tucked fiery hair behind her ear and told him she'd be in contact soon.Arrange transport from Ilios. That they would see each other again. His inky eyes watched Sol like he had something he wanted to say…but he didn't. Amelia had de
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 45 : Fragile
Javier's POVA fissure was forming inside of me. Splitting my connection to Theo and Mads. And every time I thought about her, laying there, bleeding and crumpled on the ground, the cracks got deeper. Fanning out inside of my chest.Cold and icy.It got out of hand, and it happened fast. I didn't know how to fix this. And after the fight, I healed pretty fast, but I couldn't say the same for Theo. Daxton wouldn't let me see her and honestly, I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it if I did see her.Bruised and broken.I did that to her. I could blame Mads all I wanted, but he wasn't in his right mind. I was. Over the next few days during bloodletting, I'd watch Mads leave the holding area to go sit by the trees. He'd look over at me guiltily and dip his head. Stare at his hands.His leg still healing from where Theo shot him.I knew he hadn't been back to Peacemaker. Neither had I. And while the full moon was over and he finally seemed more like himself, he still spe
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 44 : The Full Moon
Theodora's POVI couldn't look away. But I also couldn't stand. Everything felt like it was going weak. Tingles in my chest ebbing outwards to my hands. I swayed forward, struggling to find my steps. Struggling to find my breath.Daxton caught me before I fell forward, a strangled sob leaving my lips as devastation swallowed me whole."Theo! Hey!" Dax shouted, trying to snap me out of my stupor.But I didn't see him. All I saw was Mads's teeth digging into Javier's throat. The harrowing visual of them caked in blood, running thick as oil. Javi threw Mads off him. Heavy hits and the sound of grinding metal as they knocked each other into the portable sun shelters.They were going to break the windows. Send sunlight streaming into their homes.The vampires watching couldn't even do anything without risking exposure. A gruesome fiery death. And I was only human. "Fuck!" Sol shrieked, coming to the window. She was too small. Too young. Stronger than me, but she would only ge
The Captain, the Mechanic and the One Night Stand Chapter 43 : Sun Sickness
Mads's POVI couldn't stop staring at my hands. They didn't look like mine. I was trapped inside a skin that wasn't mine. My heart hammered, my body shaking like I was coming down from adrenaline, but it still coursed hotly through my veins.Nothing was as loud as if someone had stuffed cotton in my ears. I couldn't hear Theo's heartbeat or smell her scent. So disjointed from my body. Even Javier's voice sounded different. I couldn't detect the different tenors that made him so interesting to listen to.All their words fell on deaf ears. I couldn't process anything well with my senses dulled like the inhibitor drug the Pantomath dosed me with. But the wolf…the wolf was louder than ever. Stirring. Rousing. Growing in power.When Benji had finally docked, he unclipped his seatbelt harness, rushing over to me to make sure I was okay. Theo couldn't stay with me. Neither could Javier. I knew that. But it didn't make me feel any less than a newborn fawn standing on shaky legs. The
