“That was delicious,” Henry Young leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his now bloated stomach. Luro always replicated too much because she knew Young would eat it. She’d been feeding or overfeeding him since their first meeting on the USS Galaxy seven years ago.

Luro beamed as she reached across and lifted his plate. “You never could resist my hasperat.”

“No one could resist your hasperat,” Young added with a toothy grin.

Luro’s wife, Allegra Rosetti, sipped languidly from her wine glass. Young could tell she was waiting for her moment. As Luro neared the replicator, Rosetti struck, “Except Captain Forrester.”

“Forrester,” Luro dropped the empty plates onto the replicator with a loud clatter, “is a snob.” She spun around and waved a dirty fork in the air, “He thinks because he cooks meals from scratch, they taste better, but he’s still using replicated ingredients. There’s no difference; he’s just making more work for himself.”

Rosetti smiled into her glass, and Young couldn’t help but find it infectious. She loved to rile her wife, and nothing got Luro Res riled up more than someone turning their nose up at her hasperat. Forrester’s snub may have been unintentional, but he’d ignited a grudge that would burn within Luro for years to come.

As Luro continued to clear the table and return everything to the replicator, Young could feel Rosetti’s eyes watching him. “How are you finding life on the Challenger?” 

“More like serving on a starbase than a starship,” Young told her.

Rosetti nodded thoughtfully. “And you didn’t mind taking a demotion to come here?”

“I had my doubts when Res offered me the post here,” Young admitted. “But being Senior Assistant CMO on a ship this size isn’t much different to being CMO on the Columbia.” He shrugged, “I’m responsible for medical facilities larger than those on a Galaxy-class starship.”

Luro slid back into her seat with a refilled glass of wine. “I’ve been thinking about asking Remi Loxley to join us for dinner next week.”

“Why?” Young asked, though he knew the answer and could feel his ire rising.

A practised actress, Luro’s face was a picture of innocence. “He’s new on board and doesn’t know anyone. I thought it might be nice if you boys got to know each other.”

“Res.”

Rosetti’s warning tone did nothing to wave Luro off the subject. “What? The boy doesn’t know anyone onboard. I thought it would be nice if he and Henry were friends.”

“I know what you’re doing, Res and,” Young paused, ”I know you mean well, but I’m not ready for that yet.”

Luro waved dismissively, “I’m not talking about anything serious. You boys can just have some…fun.”

“I don’t want to have fun with anyone,” Young said vehemently. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rosetti reach out and place a hand on her wife’s arm, a subtle attempt to her Luro to back off. Too subtle, as it turned out. “Henry, you’re a young man; you shouldn’t be locked away pining for Dujan. He wouldn’t want you to-”

“Don’t tell me what my husband would’ve wanted!” Young surprised himself with how firmly he told her off. He wasn’t ready, and that she, who’d lost her husband more than twenty years ago, couldn’t understand, only frustrated him more. “I think I’ll skip dessert.” He drained the last wine from his glass while Luro tried to convince him to stay and, in a flat tone, said, “Thanks for a delicious meal.”

He hated himself for storming out like that, but he was tired of people pushing him to start dating again. He’d buried Dujan less than six months ago; why did people think he’d just be able to get over the love of his life in such a short time? 

Luro, of all people, should be able to understand.

The door chime sounded almost two hours later as Young transitioned from downward dog to warrior two. He thought about ignoring it, but the chime going off again, accompanied by Rosetti’s voice carrying through the door, put paid to that, “I know you’re in there, Henry.”

Young ordered the computer to pause the ambient music he was playing and approached the door. “Is Res with you?”

“I thought it would be better if she stayed home,” Rosetti replied as she brushed past him.

That was probably for the best. “I’m sorry for storming out like that.”

“Oh, caro mio,” Rossetti waved a hand. “Don’t worry about that. Res was being an idiot and I told her so.”

That made Young smile. Rosetti was one of the most supportive people he’d ever met, but she didn’t suffer fools gladly and there was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect those she cared about. There was no one he wanted on his side more than Allegra Rosetti. “I’m not ready to move on yet, Ali,” He told her sadly. “And I have no interest in fucking my way through the ship’s company.”

“I know caro,” Rosetti stepped into his space and placed a palm on his face. “Luro forgets that her relationship with her husband was different.” Young’s confused look caused Rosetti to explain, “They were young and impulsive when they got married and by the time she was pregnant with their second child, they’d realised that they loved each other but weren’t in love.”

Young had never been told that, though Luro rarely talked about her life before Starfleet, except for her two sons. “Why didn’t they get a divorce?”

“Have you met my wife?” Rosetti asked with a light chuckle as she took a step back. “She made a vow before the Prophets and she takes such things very seriously.”

Young found himself feeling jealous of Luro’s belief in the Prophets. There was something alluring about being able to take comfort in one’s faith during difficult times. “Can I ask how long it took for you to feel ready to put yourself out there again?”

Rosetti moved to a nearby chair and perched on the edge of it. “After Helen was killed at Utopia Planitia, I thought I’d never love anyone ever again,” She smiled softly at the look that crossed Young’s features, “a feeling I’m sure you’re familiar with.”

No matter how hard Young swallowed, a lump that stubbornly refused to be moved formed in his throat. “Yeah,” Young whispered. “I just can’t imagine there being anyone but him.”

“It took me two years and meeting Luro Res to feel ready to move on,” Rosetti told him. “But everyone is different. You’ll know when you’re ready.”

“And what if I’m never ready?”

“Oh, caro, you’ll drive yourself crazy with ‘what ifs’,” Rosetti told him. “Just focus on what is and leave the what ifs to the Prophets.” She stood and hugged Young tightly. “Luro and I will be there for you, no matter what.”

“Thanks,” Young could feel tears pricking his eyes. When he finally stepped back, he wiped the unshed tears from his eyes.

“Now, I’ll leave you to finish your yoga in peace,” Rosetti moved to the door. “You can expect a grovelling apology from Res in the morning.”

Young smiled. “I look forward to it.”

“Have a good night, caro.”