Thinking

            When Archer arrived home he was greeted by Ariannaa first and Naomi second; Brannigaan was rarely home so he didn’t look for him.

            “Hello, Admiral,” Naomi greeted, and she always did so formally.

            “Hi, Naomi, anything interesting happen?”

            “Ms. Riaan called a few minutes ago, but she said it could wait until tomorrow. Annaa has a new word.”

            “That’s three or four now?” he joked and picked Ariannaa up.

            “Annaa, tell daddy your new word,” Naomi instructed her with a smile. Annaa shook her head. “Please?” She grinned and shook her head again.

            “I’m sure it will come out sooner or later,” Archer said. Thanks for staying the extra time.”

            “Oh, I like it here; it’s always fun to take a break from quantum theory and go down to the beach. Brannigaan doesn’t really need me here. He’s right on top of all his classes.” Naomi collected her school work consisting of half a dozen different pads containing different texts and assignments.

            “See you at oh eight hundred,” she sang out on her way to the door. Ariannaa waved, but didn’t say a word.

            “I’m going in early. Can you be here at seven?”

            Brannigaan was up before Jonathan on school days, but there was never a contest on weekends. Brannigaan had turned into a real teenager with a need for hours upon hours of weekend sleep to make up for the days he had to get to school at eight in the morning. He was surprised to hear a knock at the door while he was still eating breakfast.

            “Hi Brannigaan,” Naomi said cheerfully.

            “You’re here early,” was all he thought to say.

            “The admiral asked me to come at seven.” Brannigaan looked at her curiously.

            “He’s not even up yet.”

            “He told me seven, I’m here at seven. Do you have any coffee ready?” She followed Brannigaan back to the kitchen were the kitchen units were all online. She set her things down and programmed a large cup of strong, black Colombian coffee. “Oh, that’s much better. How’re classes going for you?” she asked.

            “Slow. I’m putting my application in at Starfleet in January. Can’t get out of high school soon enough.”

            “You’ll be out of the fire and into the cook pans before you know it. Don’t rush it.”

            “Easy for you to say.” He picked up his assorted homework supplies and headed out the door.

            Naomi didn’t even consider waking the Admiral, even though she knew he wanted to get up early. Maybe he'd actually left before Brannigaan got up. Naomi wasn’t about to find out. She tip toed to Ariannaa’s room and found her flat on her back asleep, covers on the floor, pillow at her feet. It was her normal posture so Naomi made herself at home in the kitchen and signed onto her classroom.

            As soon as she sat down the com beeped. She’d never answered the com before, and wasn’t about to start. It beeped a second time. She focused on her classroom; the lecture was about to begin. A third beep beckoned. Okay, the admiral wasn’t home, whoever was calling could leave a message. She returned to the lecture. The com beeped a fourth time. Naomi couldn’t stand it anymore. No one hung on that long. She stood and picked up her coffee, took one step towards the com.

            Admiral Archer dashed in front of her and slammed the button to answer. Naomi almost spilled her coffee she jumped back so quickly.

            “Archer!” he shouted at the screen. At that moment, Naomi couldn’t help but notice that the admiral had obviously just jumped out of the shower wearing only a towel. She was thankful for that. Embarrassed, she took a few steps back toward the kitchen and slid into a shadow.

            “Good morning! You’re up early. I thought I’d catch you in coffee mode.”

            “Hi, Baby. I was going in early, but it looks like I overslept.”

            “Where’s Branni?”

            “Branni? It’s after seven; He must have left already.”

            “Isn’t that his stuff?” she asked, looking past Jonathan and at Naomi’s pile of school supplies on the dining table. He took a hard look from a distance. Archer looked around quickly.

            “Good morning, Dr Riaan,” called Naomi, emerging from the kitchen and taking her place behind the screen that was delivering a lecture.

            “I guess not,” Jonathan replied. He’d forgotten he’d asked her to come so early. He expected to be out of the house by this time. “Is something wrong? I wasn’t expecting you to call this morning.”

            Riaan raised her brows at Jonathan with an inquisitive expression, her eyes wide and no hint of a smile. “I can see that. Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to say good morning." They stared at each other for a moment. "I can hold the channel open, if you were thinking of getting dressed, maybe?” She looked past Jonathan again at their baby sitter, then back at him. He started to laugh, briefly.

            “Oh, you don’t think…”

            “You probably don’t want to know what I think,” she said with a stern grin.