Dancing With Myself

[Rebecca Talon]

"I think..." Rebecca started. She trailed off in thought and shrugged, "I think Nicholas should do as he sees fit. I support whatever decision he makes, and I could probably take care of the kids if that's what is needed. I love Angel and Olivia as if they were my own."

[Nick Ryder]

Nick chuckled and nodded his head. "Especially Angel. I have a feeling she's going to be either of our Yeoman someday. Marcus on the other hand... he keeps a safe distance from Livvy ever since she was messing around with some martial arts move that she saw Julie do. I was trying to get a picture of all three together, stupidly put Livvy next to Marc... he would not stop screaming. It's going to be this year's Christmas card." he looked at them both. "Honestly you two are the only two women not related to me that I have any real feelings toward and have considered family pretty much forever. And I know you two are best friends... or at least you and Nancy were."

"I'm as much Nancy as Nancy is, I'm just the part of her that's a bit more extroverted and really really tired of blood and bodily fluids but wouldn't admit it... " Noella winced slightly. "Before the split... I had a patient's lower intestine rupture from a wound he sustained... i knew exactly what he had for breakfast and it made me lose mine. Why d'you think I don't eat eggs in the morning anymore?"

"Ew.." Nick made face.

"Look, I love both of you... but... I kind of want to see where this goes. Unless you want to explore something too Rebecca?" Noella asked. "I mean... no law against dating the same widower... not as if we won't both be hanging around his kids."

"Hey... ladies... I'm not a project or a pity party, I'm grieving and I'm trying to sort out my head and figure out my next plan but... that's just me. I take forever to figure out my next move, my mom used to say it was painful watching me decide what I wanted for Christmas or my birthday." Nick chuckled and shook his head. "But I can't deny... I really wouldn't mind exploring our options... as long as it doesn't ruin our friendships. I value that the most. We're a complete away team here. Engineering, Sciences, Command... I suppose I can pull double duty as tactical. I have learned to hold my own in a fight."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Never said you were," Rebecca said dryly. "You think the kids would like to come to Santa Fe this weekend? Dad's girlfriend is planning on making tamales, and indian tacos."

[Nick Ryder]

"I don't see why not... they love tamales and tacos... just... don't give Marcus black beans. He thinks they're bugs and freaks out." Nick chuckled. "I had some black beans as a side and he started screaming and threw them halfway across the room. I think he must have seen all those little round bugs that invaded and thinks they're the same thing because they're kinda black/grey and round..." Nick shook his head. "Totally got it on holo vid... blackmail material when he's older and thinks he's big and bad."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Good to know," Rebecca said with a grin, but I don't think either uses black beans. Liza uses pinto beans for her Indian tacos, and I prefer them without the beans to be honest with you. Well, I guess I better get going. Dad wants to downsize his herd to a few horses and I agreed to take the rest to a sale up in Montana today."

[Nick Ryder]

"I'll let Jenny know to drop the kids off so you can pick them up... I think getting them out west might do them a little good. Just because this is the summer their mother died... they should still have some good memories. Besides, who knows when the next time we'll get to take them out there will be." he glanced at Noella. "And it'll give us a bit more time to figure a few things out..."

"Like if last night was a fluke and the result of blackberry brandy straight up?" Noella teased.

"Exactly. My leave is not going to last forever, hell they didn't even want to give it to me but I reminded them I had 3 children under 4 and I can just as easily tender a resignation and get hired as a civilian contactor. And then they lose the Independence project and the Excalibur project and about twenty other smaller things that they invested heavily in. Plus their only genetically enhanced engineer would be a free agent and I think that scared them the most."

"Like when you put on that silly motorcyle helmet and jacket and called yourself 'The Rider' and played vigilante." Noella hummed.

"Wasn't 'playing' I was one... they weren't doing crap about those assassins guild killers and they were leaving a bloody swath through Chicago and LA's Chinatowns. And it was only until I was done which took me all of a month and a half." Nick whistled. "But I do still have the bike and my gear in storage... just in case I need to be him again. No one ever really figured it out."

"Except me and Becca because you could only blame so many bruises and scars and cuts on Julie." Noella cleared her throat. "Don't do that again, okay? One good shot at your head and you're as dead as any man."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Ugh... not you're best moment Nicholas," Rebecca said as she stood, bushed her hair behind her ears, and pulled her cowboy hat on. "So tomorrow? I'll think of some stuff for us all to do. It wouldn't surprise me if Angel would want to ride one of the horses, but I doubt that's something every one wants to do."

[Noella St. James]

"I haven't ridden a horse in years." Noella said and hummed.

"Actually..." Nick snapped his fingers. "Those horses you were going to sell, do you have a buyer lined up? Happy Yip Farms is looking for quite a few more horses. They're going to be pulling circus wagons for the next parade and they do cart exhibitions and a rodeo show. I was going to take 'Ella there to go riding... surprise."

"Yay!" Noella chuckled.

"In any case... I mean, Montana's closer to his ranch but I DO have a massive troop shuttle that can be retrofitted in about two hours to be a horse trailer for a quick jaunt. I know horses don't like being transported that high pitched whine of the beam freaks them the hell out." Nick chuckled. "I learned that the hard way a few years ago."

"So that's why Julie sent that picture of you covered in horse crap." Noella laughed. "I thought you just fell."

'Nope, got bucked off and flew into the pile." Nick grimaced. "I hate manure."

[Rebecca Talon]

Rebecca shrugged, "No, I was just going to run them through the sale barn and whatever I get I get. It's just a ranch sale, so it's not like people are bringing in barrel and cuttin' horses. But yeah, we got ten head. If your guy is willing to part with ten grand he'll have himself a mix of Quater Horse geldings and mares. There's a stud too if he wants him, but he's rank as they come, but good breeding. Dad named him Caballo Diablo. Devil Horse," she translated, "But yeah, we'll sell him for 500."

[Nick Ryder]

"I'll let him know, he's got more money than he knows what to do with, I'm sure he'll buy the lot. He lost a few of his horses to a really nasty string of bad luck, a few got some virus and a couple were killed when a beam in his barn collapsed. We joked he should change it from Happy Yip to Sad Yip." Nick chuckled lightly. "Nice guy though."

"Wife's a right bitch of a Sheila." Noella rolled her eyes. "Acted like I was going to hit on her boys when I was simply asking one of them about a trophy they were setting up."

"Yeah she's a hard woman... dragon queen like Julie was." Nick said with a rub of his neck. "Still he must see something we don't or she doesn't let us see."

"Joe's as nice a guy as you... I'm sure you're right." Noella said and gave Becca a smirk. "You know Nick... we could go on a sorta double date sometime. Blonde and a redhead on your arm. First time anyone could flirt with you and not have the wrath of Lei come down upon their shoulders."

"Depends on Becca. Last time we went on a date it didn't end well." Nick chuckled.