What do we have here?

Posted on 10 Oct 2014 @ 5:08am by Lieutenant Min Zhao

1,960 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo, Messhall, Deck 2
Timeline: MD -27 - 0930

ON:

[[Messhall]]

With things beginning to return to normal and the tribbles now planetside, ship's functions were being slowly brought online. Amongst the first was the ship's mess, people have to eat after all, and Min was taking advantage of the relative peace & quiet during the mid-morning to catch up on some paperwork. Beside her sleeping lay a beautiful little girl, Lian Meru, her first child, and in many ways the catalyst for what Min had come to regard as her return to grace, her redemption.

That story she'd told numerous times and didn't feel like repeating but sitting here, waiting for another young lady, also a new mother, Min couldn't help but think about all that had transpired this past year and how Lian had been in the centre of it even if she didn't know it.

Putting the padd down she'd been reading, Min carefully lifted Lian out of her carrier and held the little one as she squirmed a little in Min's arms. Having chosen a spot in the mess-hall where she could still see the room but discreet enough that she could nurse, Min grabbed a small blanket from the bag at her feet before draping it over her shoulder, covering Lian so she could nurse in peace.

Smiling as she watched the nursing woman from a small distance, T'Vanna finally chose to approach. "Is this spot taken?" she asked, gesturing towards an empty seat. Unlike Min, T'Vanna had opted to carry her baby around in a mei-tai carrycloth, which put the infant close to her body. Emmaline was sleeping peacefully, having fed several hours ago now.

"Hey T'Vanna." Min motioned to the seat across from her. "Your welcome to join me. Could use a break from the paperwork." Min glanced at the little face poking out through the sling. She definitely looked a lot like her mother, the slight points to her ears being a giveaway. "How's Emmaline doing?"

"She's fairly quiet overal, though she manages to give my roommate a heart attack everytime he sees her." She rolled her eyes as she sat down and untangled the sling. "I swear...men and babies... though Oren, he seems to like her and he's offered to help out. How about you, how's your little girl?"

"Jared actually pretty good with Lian. For someone who's never been a father he took to it pretty quick. Lian is doing well. She growls a lot when she's awake and not nursing. Not a bad sound, more like she enjoys hearing her own voice." Min took a sip from the insulated mug she had sitting on the desk. "How much time you taking off?"

"Just a few days and then light duty. I've already discussed this with Lieutenant Markos before going into labor. Just hadn't planned on that happening so soon." She shifted Emma on her arm. "Emma really is quiet, she barely makes any sound barring an ear splitting screaming if she's hungry or needs a diaper change."

"I was supposed to have a few days off but that got shot to hell almost right away with the tribbles. Just paperwork & meetings but still. Won't go back to bridge watch for at least another week. Long enough that Jared and I can figure out how to arrange our schedules so one of us has Lian while the other is on duty." Min responded. "You have someone who can help look after her do you?"

"Yes, several people offered for which I'm glad. It's not easy, being a single mom. Though Oren's being a real sweetheart you know. And he's there for Emma too."

Min nodded. Jared had been the same way for Min when she first joined the crew. His willingness to accept her as she was and to take on the responsibility of caring for another man's child had endeared her to him, and ultimately the reason she was engaged to him.

"Sounds like Oren's one of the good ones. A lot like Jared in fact." She paused. "He took care of me for almost half of my pregnancy and adopted Lian even before she was born. Not many men are like that." She paused, unsure how to say the next part. "Oren sounds like one of the good ones."

"He is." The Vulcan woman smirked, then leaned forward. "And one hell of a kisser," she whispered conspiratorially.

"Secret's safe with me." Min winked at T'Vanna as a little grin crossed her face. "You considered keeping him?"

"Yeah...I just might. In fact, he's probably coming over for dinner again."

"I hope it goes well. Oren's a nice guy by all reports." Min shifted her one arm a little as it was starting to go numb holding Lian. "Jared work's with him on occasion." Shifting Lian around a little more, Min managed to get her switched to her other arm so she could nurse a bit more. Adjusting the blanket and her uniform, she got Lian settled on the other side.

"Sorry. Getting used to feeding her and my arm keeps going to sleep."

"Why not use a mei-tai?" T'Vanna suggested, gesturing towards the long strip of cloth that she had unwrapped from her body. "Takes some practice though..."

Min nodded. "I was given one before I gave birth. Used it the once and I never really used it since. Like you said, takes some practice and I didn't have the patience." Min had to agree it was certainly a better option in many ways to the regular carrier. "Could you teach me sometime how to properly use one?"

"Of course. But it really does take practice. It took me a few times before I got it right, and you have someone to help you. I had to do it by myself because my roommate is terrified of my daughter. Can you believe it, a grown man, terrified of a child."

Min's mind almost immediately flashed to the last time she'd seen Lian's father. The expression on his face was one she'd never forget. A little tone of sadness mixed with bitterness creeped into her voice. "I can. The coward who gave me Lian springs to mind. Ran away after he found out about her."

"Oh..." The Vulcan woman sobered a little. "But you have a loving man now, don't you? Someone who loves her as if she's his own? That accounts for something too you know. No man would even date me after founding out I was pregnant. So you're lucky there."

"Jared does. Which is why I don't dwell on Lian's father often." Min grinned as her mood perked up. "That happened to you too huh? One moment the guys are all interested and sniffing around. One little oops and suddenly the nobody wants to touch you."

"Yeah. Men are pigs huh."

"Some for sure. The glances I got from a few were downright creepy. Most I think were just afraid I was on the prowl to find a father for the kid."

"So how did you meet Jared then?"

"At a place in San Francisco just off campus called the White Horse Tavern. I was busy studying for a refresher exam and apparently sitting in 'his spot' when he came in. Found out we were assigned the same vessel and things progressed from there."

"And when's the wedding?" T'Vanna readjusted her daughter on her arm. "There is going to be a wedding, isn't there?"

"There is. We just don't know exactly when the wedding will be, or who will be in the wedding party for that matter. This whole romance has been a whirlwind so it wouldn't surprise me if we decided to do it on some shoreleave between missions. Would be nice if we were back on Earth so my parent's could attend but that depends on the ship."

"Could always redo the ceremony for family later on," T'Vanna suggested helpfully, "whatever deity you swear by knows this crew could use something to raise morale..especially with these..." She bit her tongue, just biting back a profanity that was very un-Vulcanlike. "...these Tribbles."

Min nodded. "If I knew we were going back to earth soon, I'd probably just call ahead and make arrangements. My family knows about Jared even if they haven't met him yet in person. We spoke a few times over subspace and they know we're engaged."

"Well there you have it. I'd orchestrate a wedding if I could, just to raise morale."

"Tell you what, if Jared agrees, we could probably arrange something. I've been planning how to arrange a shipboard wedding since we got engaged, actually since before Jared asked but don't tell him I said that."

"I won't. Should talk to the captain too, see if he's willing to officiate? From what I've heard, Captain Holliday is a nice guy, but I've yet to actually meet him."

Min smiled. "We spoke with him when we got engaged, got his blessing as it were. Both Jared and I had past 'issues' that Holliday was aware of so his permission, while not required, at least meant he was onside."

"So what's keeping you? Like I said, this crew could use a moral boost after all the misery from the last what, two weeks?"

Min nodded. "What's keeping me is that until this morning, I've been so focused on Lian and this mission that I've not really had much time to think about it. And when I do think about it, I'm not 100% sure that jumping from dating to engaged to married in six months is really the smartest idea. But I guess if I've decided to have his babies, I've decided I want to be with him long term, so really the marriage ceremony is just a public act of committing to what I already know in my heart."

"Vulcans don't waste time on dating, did you know that? Why wait, when you're certain you've found your life mate? Where's the logic in wasting time, when you already know you're made for each other."

"I suppose because Humans, unlike Vulcans, can't separate their emotions which often clouds the issue. And sometimes, speaking from experience, those same emotions push them to make decisions they later regret." Min paused. "Life is not without risk and you only get one shot it so why not?"

"True. So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"Jared's off at 1600 but until then, my day is free. Well, I have paperwork but I think it could wait a while. *Min winked.* I am supposed to be on medical leave still after all."

"Ah, lucky you. I don't have many plans for today. Just watch Emma, maybe go for a walk around the ship... meet new people and perhaps have a chat with the boss about returning to work. And have dinner with Oren of course."

Min nodded. "Sounds like fun. I've been buried in work since we left port so I've not had time to really meet anyone, outside of an official capacity at least."

"Maybe you should go out. I need to go, Emma needs to rest now." She started to rewrap the mei-tai around her torso, carefully cradling Emma to her chest. "Maybe, meet again later, when you aren't buried in reports?"

Min glanced at her padd. She'd seriously lost track of time while chatting with T'Vanna. "Definitely. Would you be up for a double date with Oren and Jared next time we have a starbase stopover?"

"I'll ask him," the Vulcan woman promised, smiling softly. "Don't overwork yourself Min...I'll see you later."

"You too T'Vanna. Catch you later."

OFF:

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

&&

Lt Min Zhao
Chief of Operations
USS Galileo

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