Operation Princess Party Part I
Posted on Sat May 23rd, 2026 @ 7:22pm by Sergeant Audie Fitch & Lieutenant Junior Grade Stefan Zamfir
Edited on on Sun May 24th, 2026 @ 5:37pm
1,880 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: SS Wyvern - Trivas Sector - Cardassian Space
Timeline: MD002 1800 hrs
The evening drew on, Stefan, Lucian, Max and Marcus had moved from the table where all of them had been having a fun time eating and catching up.
Annabelle had been called to the bridge by her chief engineer/ops/ whatever she was needing him to do, Gus. They had to move from where they had been to another location. Audie and Stefan would be able to get back to the USS Pioneer when it was time to leave. Max would see to that.
This left Annie and Audie alone. Mindy, decided she wanted to show Buster around her new home, and to show him where the treats were being kept.
Annie leaned her head against Audie's shoulder,
"I am so glad you came Aunt Audie. I truly am." giving out a contented sigh.
"Me, too, little Arrietty." Grinning, Audie ruffled the girl's hair, then hugged her close. "I didn't think I'd miss you all so much, and you most of all. I'm glad you're here now, though."
This was a new sensation for her, having someone to really care about, and to care about her, but Audie liked it!
"Did you like the presents that I sent to you?" Annie looking up into Audie's eyes her big blue eyes shining with love for her auntie.
"I missed you a lot too." Annie added.
"The presents were a good reminder of you," Audie murmured, smiling softly, "and I really needed it then. I got wounded on a mission and was hurting and feeling pretty low, so it really perked me up. I'm all healed now, so is there something you'd like to do?"
Annie's eyes went large and round tears starting to shimmer in them. "You, you got hurt? I hope the Doctor did really good with taking care of your owies." Annie starting to sniffle slightly "Hopefully he gave you a really neat bandaid. Did it have Buster on it or kitties?"
"Oh, a bandaid with kitties! I should have thought of that!" Audie chuckled and wiped the girl's tears. "If it happens again, I'll ask the doctor for Buster bandaids. And the doctor did a great job! I was limping for a day or so, but it's all better now."
She probably shouldn't have mentioned the injuries, Annie didn't need to hear about those things, but then, she needed to know the realities of life.
"Oh good, I am glad to hear there are Buster Bandaids." Annie's tears disappearing. "I am glad there are good doctors where you are at." giving Audie a heartfelt embrace.
"Mama, Uncle Max and Daddy did explain that you go out and protect people. And that it is dangerous what you end up doing. I still don't like it when people get hurt. And I will cry, when I do find out." Annie said with a nod. "That is okay isn't it?"
"Yes, that's just fine." Audie hugged the girl to her side and kissed the top of her head. "I cry, too, sometimes, and it helps make things a little easier. And I work with a whole team, so we help keep each other safe. And I have you to come home to...and Buster, of course!"
"I am glad of that, glad I am someone to come back to." she said with some somberness.
"Do you want to come to my room, do some coloring? I do also have beads we can string some bracelets together. Watch some cartoons. Anything you would like to do?" Annie looking back up at Audie. "Or umm can I brush your hair? Its so pretty" Annie reaching up to touch her aunt's hair.
"Oh, my hair is all red and curly!" Audie laughed, then nodded. "I've been looking for a new hairstyle, so I'm curious to see what you come up with." Grinning, she stood and offered Annie her hand.
Taking Audie's hand Annie gave out a delighted squeal, "And you can make a hairstyle for me too!"
Inside Annie's room upon the wall was a picture of Audie, Buster and Mindy. It was of the playdate with Adira Harrington's kids. All happy and having fun. There were also images of the pizza party they had, before Audie went on her mission. The day that Annie had asked Audie to be her Aunt.
There were crayon drawings also of Audie, riding upon the back of a Wyvern, with Annie behind her, smiling.
There was another drawing of Audie, and Annie dressing up in pretty princess outfits.
Her blankets were a dark green, while her pillow cases were a lighter green. Scattered about on a table were her drawing supplies and beads in a container.
"Wow, you've got a really nice place here," Audie complimented as she looked around. "Did you do these drawings? They're very good, but who is that person?" Seriously, she pointed to her portrait. "Kinda homely, don't you think?"
Annie stepped back and glared at Audie, putting her fists upon her hips. "Auntie Audie you are not homely, you are very pretty!" a finger rose up and she shook it at Audie. "Don't call yourself homely." crossing her arms over her chest with a hmmph.
Trying to keep a straight face, Audie humphed as well, crossing her own arms over her chest. "But if I don't, who's going to? Hmmm, Smarty Pants?" She laughed, then put her hands on her hips. "How about you pretty me up?"
Anni stared at Audie for a few moments, her eyes just sparking with ire, then she couldn't halp herself Audie's grin making her smile as well.
"Hmmnn... okay lets have you sit down here." Annie motioning Audie towards a smaller chair, one made for children. It looked sturdy enough, and would help Annie have access to Audie's hair.
"Oh and you get to do my hair after yours is done, sound good?" Annie having a giggle when she said that.
"It does!" Audie sank -- and sank -- into the small chair, her knees nearly up to her chest. "Better do a good job, since there's no telling what I might do with yours!" She actually had a couple things in mind, if she could pull them off.
Annie carefully brushed Audie's hair enjoying the silky feel of the coppery locks.
"So pretty." Annie giving a huge smile. And she set to work.
She wanted to see what Audie's hair looked like in multibraids, her eyes drifting over towards her collection of paints. There was something that she wanted to try, it was a hair coloring device, which put temporary dye on the hair. Her plan was to do different colors, which sparkled like gems.
She set to work, her fingers nimble and sure, weaving Audie's hair into eight braids, then weaving the eight braids into a hairdo. She added a touch of color to each end making a sparkling iridescent rainbow effect just on the ends of Audie's hair.
And then adding pretty glittery clips, to finish the hairstyle. Flowers and butterflies to finish up the hair style.
"Oh, my goodness!" Audie gazed in the mirror, surprised at the skill that Annie had shown. "This is amazing! You're very talented, I don't think I can match this!"
It was actually a little odd, to see herself looking, well, elegant. It wasn't something she often cared about or had need for.
"I've been practicing a lot on Mama." Annie giving a pleased smile. "I am glad you like it!" the little girl throwing her arms around Audie giving her an enthusiastic embrace.
As for Audie's comment about not matching Annie's skill the little blonde, gave her adopted aunt a kiss on the cheek.
"I think you will do good." Annie said with great assurance, giving a nod of confidence.
"Besides you know magic and whatever you create will be magical. Trust yourself, its what mama has always told me. And... I was scared at first to try doing hairstyles. And I was actually worried that I would make a mess of your hair. But Mama told me earlier that I needed to trust my instincts."
"Well, you have good instincts!" Audie grinned, gently combing her fingers through Annie's hair. "Wonder what ya'd look like bald?"
She laughed, then shook her head. "All right, just sit still and I'll see what I can come up with!" After smoothing the girl's hair, she started working braids around her head, working in satin Forget-Me-Nots that she replicated.
Things went smoothly, except for a few places that needed adjusting. "There! All pretty!"
Annie reached over to get the hand mirror that was close by, to get a good view of what Audie had done with her hair.The pretty crown of braided hair and the curls her hair was done in.
Her eyes went round as saucers, she moved out of her chair knocking it over to give Audie a huge hug.
Squealing out. "It's so beautiful Auntie Audie. I look like a princess, just like you! I love it, love it very much!" Annie's eyes shimmering with adoration of her aunt. "I love you so much! I am so glad you agreed to be adopted as mom's sister and my aunt. You have made us all very happy."
"I'm glad you wanted me," Audie replied, hugging the girl tightly. She wondered if she'd ever get used to being part of a 'family', a group of people who loved and cared for each other so fiercely. "You're all the family a girl could ever need."
Sighing, she put her arm around the girl and turned so they could see themselves in a mirror. "We look like princesses! Too bad we don't have pretty gowns!"
"Well maybe, we can make us some, there is the replicator, we could ask for some pretty dresses." Annie offered. "Want to do so?" The little girl hugging Audie. "I love you"
"Why not?" In truth, Audie was combat boots and cargo pants, with a bit of Boho tossed in. She owned a dress but rarely had cause or desire to wear it. But for Annie, she'd put on anything!
"Let me pick yours and you can pick mine." A risk, both ways, but this was all in fun, right?
For a moment she went through the files in the replicator, then settled on a choice.
"How's this?"
"Oh that is so pretty, I love it!!" Annie squealed out in delight, once more wrapping her arms around Audie.
It was her turn, Annie wasn't certain but she did come across some pretty dresses. With a shy smile she brought up two dresses.
"Which one do you like?" Annie asked.
"Oh, well..." Annie sure did have good taste in dresses! And while the green one was more simple, and suited to her personality, the other was really pretty, and... well, it reminded her of dancing in a Fairy Circle, so why not?
A Joint Post By
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Stefan Zamfir
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
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