With a Side of "Marital Bliss"

Posted on Sat Sep 13th, 2025 @ 5:28am by Lieutenant JG Christian Rogers

1,845 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: What was Lost is Found
Location: Valhalla Lounge
Timeline: 3 hrs past "Just Another Training Day"

"I told you there'd be at least one free table," Baldwin said to Kawolski as they entered the Lounge. He pointed toward the back area where, luckily, a table near a window was available. The two made their way across the room to the table. Baldwin waved to the auburn haired worker, flashing her a smile. He saw with Kawolski and picked up the menu for the day's specials.

"What are you doing here?" the auburn haired server said after coming to the table. "You realize we do have a replicator in our quarters?" Her dark brown eyes moving between the two. "And I know you've both been off duty for two hours, why are you still dressed like that?"

Baldwin and Kawolski automatically looked at themselves, in their tactical uniforms.

"And smelling like you haven't showered after your training exercises?"

"Well, that one is-" Kawolski began.

"I was talking to my husband. The one that I expect not to embarrass me by coming in here grubby and at all. You have a Mess! You are a mess!"

"We tried to go back to quarters!" Baldwin said, tapping the menu card on the table. "But Weaver said we couldn't stay."

"Did she?" Malinda asked, giving her husband an extremely skeptical look. "She said you couldn't stay in your quarters?"

"Well, yeah," Baldwin said, looking sheepish and glancing at Kawolski. Kawolski was shaking his head, his lips pursed to keep from saying anything. This was quickly becoming one of those times that it seemed Malinda, as great as she generally was, would turn her issue with her husband into an "all men" issue.

"Really?" Malinda asked again, crossing her arms.

"Yes!" Baldwin said, churlish. "We went there to grab some chow and-"

"We?" Malinda asked, her gaze turning to engulf Kawolski. He endeavored to become invisible on the spot. "So she said "we" couldn't be in quarters?"

"Yes," Baldwin said. "We went to get something to eat and to change and she said we weren't allowed to be there because Jeremy was sleeping!"

"Uh uh...continue," Malinda said, a finger tapping her arm.

"That's it! We weren't even doing anything! We just went in and she stood up from the couch and ordered us out!" Baldwin said, then leaned toward Malinda, "And she wasn't even quiet about it. Talk about waking the baby!"

"And she didn't give you any reason." Malinda said.

"Careful, buddy, that may have sounded like-" he stopped as Malinda gave him a tap on the back of the head.

"I"ll get to your lies in a moment," she said, her lips pursing as she glared at him. "So they'd better be good."

Baldwin and Kawolski looked around at some chuckling from surrounding tables.

"Well," Baldwin said, haltingly, "she said that Jeremy was sleeping."

"And?" Malinda asked.

"And, well, he'd been fussy all day," Baldwin added, glancing up at her, trying to give her the 'puppy dog' eyes that usually worked to keep him from trouble.

"And," she said again.

"And," he said, but quickly realized he shouldn't be flippant, "and, she said that we're too rambunctious when we get together."

"And are you going to say she's wrong?" Malinda asked.

"Well, yes!" Baldwin said, glaring at a couple still chuckling and whispering. "We're not kids!"

"Oh?" Malinda said, infusing an entire rant in that one syllable.

"Yeah! We're Marines and security professionals! We're grown adults with grown adult responsibilities!"

"Yeah, what he said," Kawolski said and tried to duck the slap on the back of his head. He failed.

"Grown adults, huh?" Malinda glared. "Did or did I not, just yesterday, have to break up a wrestling match in my living room?"

"It's my living room too, y'know," Baldwin muttered, staring at the table.

"What was that?" Malinda asked.

"Well, technically, well, yeah," Baldwin answered, quickly.

"Technically?" Malinda said, but then pressed on. "And why did I have to break up a wrestling match in my living room? While my baby was down for the night?"

"He's my baby too!" Baldwin muttered, sounding just as petulant as the toddler she was implying they were. "And I said I'd put him back to sleep if he'd waked up!"

"Yeah, right," Malinda said. "Why did I break up a fight between the two of you "grown, professional adults"?"

"Because he's a cheat!" Baldwin said, flapping a hand toward Kawolski.

"I am not!"

"Are too!" Baldwin replied. "You deliberately replicated the extra creamy whipped cream for me!"

"Because it tastes better!" Kawolski said, but was guilty laughing.

"You know it is thicker and so I couldn't eat as much at once!"

"I know nothing!"

"As true as that is," Malinda smirked, "you two 'grown adults' were fighting over who could suck down the most whipped cream the fastest! And that's only because I stopped you two from jumping through the quarters like hyperactive monkeys!"

"We were not!" Baldwin said.

"We kind of were," Kawolski answered.

"I had to talk the deck below from calling security on you!" Malinda said, exasperated.

"Don't agree with her!" Baldwin said tossing the menu at him. "She's trying to say we're overactive children-"

"I'm sure she's going to mention crayon munchers as well," Kawolski added, nodding to Malinda to show he was on her side. "And you started the fight! Just because you lost!"

"You cheated!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"BOYS!" Malinda hissed, slapping her order PaDD onto the table. "You both will knock it off right now or so help my I'm grounding both of you!"

"You're not-" Baldwin said but stopped as Malinda turned her glare at him.

"Be very careful how you finish that sentence."

"Uh..."

"Ha ha! You're in trouble!" Kawolski said, leaning back in his chair.

"You think you're not?" Malinda turned back to him.

"Yeah, but...but..." Kawolski sputtered. "Well, you can't ground me!"

"You really think so?" Malinda asked. "Tell me Kawolski, who did I find crashed out on my couch this morning? Who spends more time in my home than his own quarters?"

"That's..." Kawolski started.

"Who's in trouble now?" Baldwin said smugly.

"You are!" Kawolski said. Then pointing at him he turned to Malinda. "He said it was okay to go to your place tonight! He said he was the man of the house and no matter what Weaver -"

"Your betrothed by the way," Malinda said. It had the effect she intended as Kawolski's mouth snapped shut and he went pink in the face.

"But...she...she said I couldn't stay," he finally muttered. "Shut up, Baldwin!" he said smacking at his friend's hand on the table.

"I didn't say anything!" Baldwin snapped.

"You were thinking it!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"I swear to every deity in the universe that if the two of you don't stop right now I will remove every caffeinated snack from the ship's replicator system!"

Both men stopped, their turn to glare at Malinda. "That's crossing the line!" Kawolski said.

"Definitely!"

"Then I suggest the two of you at least pretend to be the "grown adults" you claimed to be!" Malinda said. "And after you have your dinner you," she glared at Baldwin, "will return home and relieve Weaver from watching your son." She turned on Kawolski. "And you will return to your quarters. And the two of you will learn how to act your age! For at least one night! Am I clear on this?"

"Yes, ma'am," Baldwin said.

"You're wife's mean," Kawolski muttered.

"And I fully intend to teach every last bit of it to Weaver, so you'd better start paying attention now!" Malinda said.

"Yes, ma'am," Kawolski said, sticking his tongue out at Baldwin.

"And, Terry, I swear, if you don't shower that funk off and make sure those clothes go through the refresher by the time I get home from my shift, you'll be sleeping on his couch!"

"Yes, ma'am," Baldwin said, but couldn't stop the chuckling. "Are we able to order now?"

Malinda rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"I'll have-" Baldwin started only to be interrupted again.

"You're going to have the Cornbread Chili Bowl. You want that with cheese or sour cream?"

"But I wanted-"

"Cheese and sour cream or no?" Malinda answered.

"Both, please," Baldwin muttered after a few seconds thinking he was going to stand his ground.

"And you?" Malinda asked Kawolski.

"I'll have-"

"Cornbread Chili bowl. With or without cheese or sour cream?"

"You can't..." Kawolski sputtered. Then he sighed, his large shoulders slumping. "Both please. And can I have the golden crackers instead of the square ones?"

"Me too!" Baldwin rushed to say.

"Fine," Malinda said. "I'll have that out in a few minutes. The two of your are going to behave yourselves, got it?"

"Yes, ma'am," they both said at once. Malinda gave a nod then turned to put in the order. She stopped and came back. "And because I love you," she said, "I made sure to save two slices of the chocolate cheesecake. If you're good..." she gave each man a final glare before turning.

"She said she loves me!" Kawolski taunted Baldwin.

"Yeah, well, she's got no taste in men. I mean, look at who she married," he said, holding up the hand to show off his wedding band.

"Yeah, there's that. You think she meant it that she was going to teach Weaver to be mean?"

"Oh, definitely," Baldwin answered.

Kawolski's brows furrowed. "I think she's spending way too much time around Rogers."

Baldwin smiled and nodded. "That's got to be it. Definitely."

"You should do something about that. She threatened to take away our crayons and caffeine!"

Baldwin looked across the room. "I know," he said, his smile wistful and his thoughts clear on his face.

Kawolski rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'm really hungry though. I wanted more than just a chili bowl."

But, he didn't need to complain as Malinda carried the heavily laden tray back to the table. She brought two of the chili bowls for each of them, several containers of the buttery crackers, two slices of chocolate cheesecake and two large, thick slices of chocolate cake. "Because at least you're quiet when you're eating," she said, but she was smiling again.

"So, you want to get together tomorrow night? We could work on that pillow fort for Jeremy," Kawolski said between mouthfuls of chili, cornbread and cracker.

"No," Baldwin said. "I think we are actually grounded from hanging out for a few days. I just hope she doesn't get Rogers to put us on different shifts."

"She wouldn't!" Kawolski said, horrified at the thought.

"She threatened to take away caffeine, I think she needs a break from us."

"Oh," said Kawolski as he took another bite. Then, "So, hang out at my place?"


NPCs by Rogers

Petty Officer 2nd Terry Baldwin
Husband in trouble

Petty Officer 2nd Hunter Kawolski
Best friend, also in trouble

Malinda Baldwin
Exasperated wife to two overgrown toddlers with phasers

 

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