What is Love? Henry Won't Hurt Me.
Posted on Fri Dec 5th, 2025 @ 4:54am by Tessa di'Orion & Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Crewman Erika Yang
Mission:
Lower Decks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Day after 5 Nights at Henry's
Kally walked into Sickbay, coffee in one hand, padd in another. "Good morning, Erika," she said. "Today's schedule ready to go?"
“Morning, Doctor,” Erika answered. “Yes, ma’am, your list of appointments is at the terminal in your office. Your afternoon is quite open right now.”
"Excellent. I'll get assignments set shortly. If you could give a shout if Ensign Kozlowski comes in, I'd appreciate it."
“Ensign Kozlowski, absolutely.”
"Appreciate it!" Kally said, smiling at the younger woman and heading to her office.
It was a subdued Tessa that walked into sickbay a few moments later, without the bright smile on her face that she’d normally had. Today was something different, because she was schedule to work and Henry was off. She almost stumbled towards the CMO’s office to check in with Kally regarding what they would be up to today, and only knocked before entering, slumping towards the doctor, “Good morning, Doctor Kellerman.” She said in a voice that was a mix of listless and concern.
Kally looked up at Tessa's voice and frowned. "Tessa? You all right? You sound off." She stood up and walked over, looking the girl over, concerned, feeling her throat, gently. "Are you feeling sick?"
“No, not sick, I just…” Tessa looked up. “I need to know if I did something absolutely horrible to Henry. I mean, a couple days ago he and I decided that we were going to have children together and then…” Tessa had a hard time bringing herself to say it, “Then he told me he loved me…” It came out as if it were a horrible thing.
Kally's face was having a war between shock and confusion, finally settling on shock. "Okay..." she said. "Give me a second to unpack all that." She licked her lips and walked over to her office door, closing and locking it for privacy. "Okay," she said, turning back to Tessa and walking her over to Kally's office couch. "Let's start with context. Tell me everything from start to finish."
“From the start.” Tessa nodded slowly, “Well, we’ve been going out for dinner most nights, every night really and a couple nights ago I finally told him about how I was now a Baroness.. It must have slipped my mind not to tell him before and so, Henry being human, he asked me what a Baroness does.” She gave a wishy-washy gesture, “And so I told him that it’s to care for her people and to provide an heir for the continuity of the line.” She glanced up, “He asked, I didn’t just tell him, but we had a talk about it and he was happy with the thought, even if we can’t for a month or so. And then Last night as we were going to sleep he told me that he loved me.. I’d thought he was happy with me and then this..”
Kally sat with legs crossed, her hand on Tessa's, listening patiently. When her explanation finished, Kally wasn't sure she had a better handle on things. So much for holding off on the children talk, she thought. "Okay, next question," she said. "Does the word 'love' mean something different in your culture? Because for humans...that's the greatest, and to be frank the most obvious, thing he could say to you. I'm actually genuinely shocked it took him this long, given he's been crazy about you since you two met."
“On Tial, love is the feeling between a parent and their child. It’s that bond of blood that can’t be broken, even should they be apart.” Tessa’s eyes had brightened slightly at Kally’s words about him, “But it’s only ever between parent and child, I guess because the Korashe don’t form permanent relationships with one other, it’s always blood bonds.” She gave Kally a quizzical look. “Does this mean something completely different to humans, love?”
Kally let out a breath and regretted it was too early for a glass of wine. "Yes and no," she said, buying a moment to think. "My mother is an expert on an ancient Earth culture called the Greeks. They categorized love in eight different ways. I, personally, think there are many, many more. Of course, I love my parents, and they love me. I love my father to the edge of the universe and back. He's the most wonderful man I've ever known." She smiled warmly. "And God knows, he dotes on Katie and I like we're the most important people in the universe to him." She held up a finger. "But, he also loves our mother. Absolutely worships her. It's not the same love he shows us, but it's just as deep and just as powerful. It's like...flavors of ice cream: all wonderful, sometimes blended together, and all valuable.
"The love humans feel depends on the relationship. The love I have for my sister Katie is different from what I feel for Jadizon, or Cally, or some of my friends, or even you. Those feelings will evolve and change over time; they may fade, they may grow, they may turn into something completely different. For humans, there's room for all of that. Does that make sense?"
“I… Think so?” Tessa asked, genuinely trying to figure out the meaning behind the words that Kally was saying, but it was still confusing to say the least. “Love can be different for people between other people. Like for you, I’m very fond of you, I see you almost as if you were a sister?” Tessa wondered if she were getting it right, “Like an older sister, the way I’ve always tried to look out for Temer back home, right? But how is it different? I know with Henry, I feel just about incomplete unless I’m around him, like some piece of the puzzle that is me is missing and I have to hunt around on the floor to find that piece.”
Kally smiled. "And I have no doubt Henry feels the same. While you were down on the planet, he was very much missing a part of himself. Humans have a term: soulmates. Two people so intertwined their very souls are meant to be together. That's how I think of you two. You have what we call 'true love.' It's very rare, very special. It's the kind of pure love that can move mountains, topple empires, and stand up to an entire planet's millennia of tradition." She gave Tessa a pointed look. "You didn't come back here for me, or your studies. You came back for one man...what does that say about how you feel about him?"
“I’d say warm and fuzzy, like a fur blanket on a chilly day by the fire, but that’s not right..” Tessa put her face in her hands, propping it up on her knees, “It’s a mix of that, butterflies in the stomach whenever I see him, the glow of the sun on a clear summer day, a clarion call of the Aster jay in the morning air.” She raised her head and looked into Kally’s eyes, “Would this be what you’re talking about?”
"Something like that," Kally said, smiling. "That feeling deep down that you need him in your life. That he just makes you intrinsically happy. That's how I feel about Jadizon and Cally. They make me feel like a better person. I feel happy when I make them happy. When they kiss me, I get butterflies too. Cally makes me smile just hugging me. Jadizon makes me feel safe and loved and wanted. They both do, really. So yes, in my amateur opinion, that is, indeed, love."
“So I don’t have to worry that he’s already bored with me?” Tessa asked, getting a look of surprise, then a wide grin and a slow shake of Kally’s head in return, then the young Tialan sighed in relief. “And I’m going to make sure there’s no reason for him to ever get tired of spending time with me. You know, I plan on teaching him how to defend himself and I’d like to offer lessons to anyone else here who may be interested. I’m good enough with the staff to teach others a good amount and Cass always wanted me to learn how to grapple a fair bit, just in case, so I know a few tricks there.” Her voice had perked up noticeably, the haunted look gone from her eyes. “In what time, of course, I’m not studying. Speaking of which, what are the plans for today?”
Kally smiled and patted her hand. "Two chapters on the Klingon pulmonary system, then helping with some routine exams." She stood up and as Tessa did as well, she gave her a hug. "Just remember: here, you're on the job. On your breaks? That's your time."
Tessa squeezed tightly, then released Kally, "Well, today, Henry's just stopping by to take me to lunch, since he's off, so it won't be an issue. Besides, I do really try to be good whenever I'm here working! And I'll get better, I promise."
"You're doing fine," Kally said, smiling. "Oh! And before I forget. I'm having a get-together later this week. I know you're off duty but it's just casual. Pajamas, junk food, drinks and some of the girls getting together to have some fun. You're absolutely welcome to join. 1800 hours, my quarters."
"You can bet that I'll be there!" Tessa didn't hesitate even for a moment, "I can let Henry know so he doesn't have to worry about me, and well, I don't know what I'm going to be doing anyways. I've had a thought bouncing around my head and I'll be able to get it out!"
Kally grinned. "Great. Now, to your station, Crewman."
It was a salute, a Tialan salute, but a salute nonetheless, with an open hand up to her chest, "Of course, My Lady, right away!"
Henry had caught up on a few chores he'd been putting off, and had cleaned his entire apartment. He liked the slight 'lived in look' he'd come to have living with Tessa over the last week, but he did like getting it spruced up for her as well. He'd been thinking about what had happened the night before and to say he was nervous was putting it mildly. He'd realized what he'd said falling asleep when she'd acted nervous that morning, but she'd rushed off to her shift before they could talk. He wasn't going to push her on things, but the cat was out of the bag, and he didn't want to pretend it wasn't how he felt.
He'd replicated a new book and was hoping they could talk things through over lunch, and then have some time to cuddle up together that night. Part of him realized he was getting too used to them sleeping together, but the other 99.99% hoped it never stopped. He'd been engrossed in a letter to his sister, Mary, and hadn't realized the time when the doors to his quarters opened, making him look up in surprise.
Tessa bounced in, talking to herself as she reviewed what she'd been learning about today. "The secondary heart doesn't have the power to keep up the normal blood pressure in the Klingon body, but can keep them alive long enough for emergency repairs to the pulmonary system to take effect and stabilize their condition." Then her eyes brightened as she looked up from the ground that she'd been focusing on during her personal monologue. "I thought you were going to meet me outside Sickbay?" she asked, but waved it away before he replied. "But that's fine!" She reached out her hands to him to beckon him over. "I've got something I have to tell you."
Okay...a good mood is a good sign, he thought. He stood up and walked over to her in only a couple steps and took her hands, looking into his favorite shade of blue. "I'm all ears," he said.
Those eyes glittered up at him, the smile on her face was as bright as a newborn star and Tessa's hands squeezed his own as she licked her lips for what had to be the most important words she'd ever said to him. "Henry, I love you." It sounded like the revelation of the century.
Henry didn't want to say something flippant, or cool, or nonchalant. He wanted to say something so romantic that she swooned and agreed to marry him then and there. He struggled for the words, struggled for a breath and struggled to think. He finally just gave up and gave her his usual, loving smile. "I love you too, Tessa," he said. He had a feeling that somewhere, on a small, previously unknown planet, the Light of the Eastern Watch was sensing something was wrong in the universe, but in Henry's small corner, things were finally on track.
He grabbed her and lifted her up, carrying her to his bed and sitting down, resting her gently on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her for all he was worth.
Tessa did nothing to stop him, even if it meant she may be a few minutes late getting back to work. This was worth a thousand scoldings, maybe more, just to feel this way.
