Coming Home

Posted on 03 Sep 2014 @ 6:47pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Vermeer Talbot
Edited on on 04 Sep 2014 @ 3:57pm

1,007 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, 02-0806 SO
Timeline: MD9 1100 hours

ON:

Carrying her baby in a specially knotted sling, but supporting her as well, T'Vanna walked into their quarters. "Hellooooo!" she called out, wondering if Vermeer was home.

Ver frowned as he heard her, taking a deeper breath before placing down what he had been doing and moving out of his bedroom. "Welcome back and congrats," he said, remaining in the doorway of his bedroom.

"She doesn't bite you know," T'Vanna answered, beaming happily at her roommate. "Can you help me with this? It was hell to put on but now I can;t seem to get it off."

Ver moved to her, swallowing slightly as he moved to help her. "Wouldn't just...you know, a normal thing be easier?" he helped her get it off, stepping back.

"Maybe but this is supposed to be better for your back, and better for the baby's back too." Shrugging the long cloth off but supporting her child, she smiled even brighter, stepping closer to him. "Look, isn't she just adorable?" The baby's face was angelic, her ears very slightyl pointed, her eyebrows slightly slanted. Her eyes were closed, but when open, they were the darkest of blue. Her skin had a sheen of olive, but was mostly pink.

Ver looked at the baby, trying to keep an excited face. Truth was, he was a bit nervous. This was a new born baby. "Err...yeah. Cute." He'd be terrified to drop her. What if she started crying and he was here alone with her? He shook that thought away as stupid. Sure she wouldn't leave her daughter with a stranger.

"Want to hold her?" T'Vanna offered, obviously having no qualms about letting others hold her child. "Don't worry, I won't be far and there's no risk of her dropping. I have every faith in you."

"No...no, thanks, I just...no..." he said, smiling as he pulled back. "Not until she can hold her own head and all that. Just in case."

"Are you sure?" She held the baby out to him. "Just sit down. Oh....her name is Emmaline."

"I'm sure," he said, holding his hands up almost defensively. "I'll wait until she is...walking...talking...that sorta age. Pretty name though."

"Thank you, and she won't walk for a while you know." She regarded him closely. "You're afraid of babies!" she suddenly exclaimed, as if she had an epiphany.

"Only the bits where I can accidentally maim them..." he said, sitting back with a frown. "I just...aren't that...great. With them. When they're all crying and spitting and dribbling. Sort of creeps me out...." he watched her, with apology.

"Well you'll probably have to get used to it, or ask for another roommate." She sat down next to him and lowered the baby onto her lap so he could get a good look. "Tiny, isn't she? But the doctor said she's all healthy and she was feeding well."

"I...good," he said with a nervous smile, holding her eyes. "Good, always good to know. Eating. Feeding. Yep. Good."

The baby waved her arms and gave a few soft noises until she grabbed her mother's fingers. "Quite strong too, here feel this..." T'Vanna detached her fingers and took Ver's hand, bringing it close so Emma could grab his finger.

He tensed, watching the child for a moment before carefully pulling his hand back when she let go. "Yes...well...I am sure she will just get stronger."

"Yes she will, and you did offer your help..." T'Vanna smiled at him. "Uncle Vermeer? Does sound nice.."

"Err...no, no, no..." he shook his head, swallowing. "I am not an uncle. Or...anyone. I mean, I'll be transferred before she'll walk, that's the nature of ship. And...and when I offered, I'd..." he stopped himself and grimaced. "I don't like tiny babies because I'm scared of breaking them. I get nervous. Like this, talking nervous. Oh great, I am babbling now."

"It's fine Ver, really it is. And you'll do fine. Here..." And without preamble, she deposited the baby into his arms.

Ver froze, his eyes widening as he breathed harder. "Take her away from me," he said, his voice shaky. "Now. I told you I don't like this, so take her away from me now."

THe baby stirred in his arms and seemed to snuggle closer to him, yawning before opening her eyes. Her dark eyes stared right at him, even though technically, she couldn't look that far yet. Her mother held her hands close, but did not take her away just yet, feeling that somehow the baby was trying to do something here.

Ver's frown deepened and he moved quickly, putting the baby back to T'Vanna before standing, getting some distance from her. "Why the hell would you do that to someone?" he asked with disbelief. "When I told you, I told you I didn't like tiny babies. What if I had dropped her and hurt her?"

"You wouldn't have Ver, because I trust you. If I hadn't, I would never have given her to you. Hell, I'd never have let you near her." She cradled the cooing baby to her chest, baring her breast to feed her before partially dawing a blanket over herself and her child so to spare her roommate the view. "Call it a mother's instinct."

"Yeah...right...don't trust that too much, men are wankers," he said, turning his face away. "I'll...leave you to...that..." he grimaced and moved away from her, to his own room and moved to his bed, grabbing the pillow to cover his head.

Sighing to herself, T'Vanna bowed her head as he walked away. "Yeah....and you don't know half of it," she muttered at his retreating form. And yet, as she stared down at her child, she couldn't help but wonder how such a man could have helped create such a little wonder.

OFF:

Petty Officer 3rd Class Vermeer Talbot
Engineering
USS Galileo
[PNPC of Aria Rice]

&

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Asst. Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

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