[AU] Baby Time

Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2020 @ 11:11pm by Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Kalin Brennan-Griffin PhD
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:02pm

Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Cailus/Shae's Quarters
Timeline: Seven years inside the Bubble

A Mission Post by Lieutenant Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Kalin 'Shae' Brennan-Griffin PhD
Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Cailus/Shae's Quarters
Timeline: Seven years inside the Bubble.
Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 @ 2:15am

Shae rushed about to put the finishing touches on the room; she had taken a page from Nyx’s book and used scarves and torches to illuminate the room and set the mood. In the next day or so, Cailus would be departing to bunk with Nyx or Fick for the next week, but Shae had a different idea in mind. The office desk that served as their dining table was set and a lovely dinner was set out, the last bit of business was what to do with herself; she could dress nicely or she could just sit on the table naked… No, naked, though tempting, would be coming on just a little too strong, so she found her blue dress and slipped it on. Now all she had to do was wait for Cailus to come home!

Coming back from a somewhat more exciting day of work than usual, the last thing on Cailus’ mind was romance. Being the sole sheriff of a group of thirty was hardly taxing and a few sharp words earlier that evening had been sufficient to defuse a potential lover’s quarrel earlier that day, but he was still quite ready to have a quiet dinner with the wife before turning in after a day of managing delicate political tension. Certainly Cailus had noticed that Shae had been somewhat chirpier than usual lately, but he paid it no mind, having no reason to expect something special on that night.

Thus, as the doors opened with a quiet whisper to reveal their artistically lit abode, Cailus was distinctly befuddled as he stepped inside. “Did I forget our anniversary?” he asked with a subtle smile, unable to resist at the ravishing sight of Shae in that dress under those lights. “I know it isn’t your birthday. Or mine.”

“No, you didn’t forget anything,” Shae said with a soft laugh, then smiled warmly as she gazed into his eyes; stars above, she loved him! Then she realized that she had an agenda for the night and stood, coming around the desk to sit in her chair. “I, uh… well, I just thought we deserved a special night. We don’t really take any time to appreciate us, we never really got that ‘honeymoon’ dinner with dancing… Is this too much?”

“It’s perfect,” Cailus said with complete sincerity. The back of his mind whirled as it always did, trying to discern Shae’s motivation for the sudden gesture, but he ignored that chain of thought, having long since given up trying to anticipate or Shae’s actions. Oh, he could do it easily enough after all these years, but it was often far more enjoyable to simply trust Shae and follow along. Instead he took off his jacket, preferring the short-sleeved gold shirt he’d adapted from his old uniform, and sat down opposite her.

“I haven’t seen you in that dress in years,” he commented quietly, supremely relaxed and at ease as he looked at Shae. “It’s a good choice. You look as beautiful as the day Nyx married us.”

Shae smiled brightly at the compliment as she opened a canister of what turned out to be wine; apparently one of the engineers dabbled in brewing and this was the first batch of mixed berry brandy and it smelled quite strong! “It felt appropriate to wear it,” she replied with a blush as she poured a cup of wine for them both. Now came the awkward silence; Shae didn’t know if she should just come out and say what was on her mind or if she should enjoy the moment a little more. She nibbled on her lip, a dead giveaway that she was considering something very intensely, but she said nothing for the moment.

Holding the cup up to appreciate the smell, which was a rather wondrous thing given how long it had been since they’d had such a rich flavour, Cailus peered at Shae expectantly. “You can say it, love. Go on.”

“Am I that easy to read?” Shae asked with a half grin. Then she took a breath and went for it. “I’ve, uh… I’ve been thinking, or debating with myself… about maybe… having a baby?” she said, then held her breath for a moment to see how he would react. But then she got nervous and started rambling. “I know that we both agreed not to, and I’m not giving up on getting out, but we’ve become more flexible since Chief Anderson found out his wife was pregnant and… And I understand if you still don’t want to, it’s just something I’ve been giving some thought to lately.”

“A baby,” Cailus repeated slowly, his expression inscrutable. His eyes flashed around the small space that had been their home for the past few years, as if he was assessing it, organising it. “I...I haven’t thought about that in a long time. It was easier not to.”

“I was easier for me too, but… the clothes I knit for Aurora were memorable enough that now Melody wants some for her baby, and after knitting for Emilie’s baby too, and watching Aurora grow up, it was hard not to think about it… I want to knit some clothes for our baby one day…” Shae said, her expression growing sad, but she tried to push that sadness down so that Cailus wouldn’t think she was trying to pressure him.

Of course, like it or not, Shae was doing precisely that. Cailus was silent for a full minute, thinking hard, his gaze alternating between Shae and their very cosy home. “We had good reasons before,” he said finally, slowly, with the faint tone of reluctant surrender. “But things have gotten better. The ship is stable now and our community is functioning, more or less. Our power problems have been solved for the most part.” He gradually sipped his wine before setting the cup down. “And I miss it. Being a father. Raising a child with you.”

“I… I know it’s still far from ideal, and I still have my own reservations about this, which is is why I want you to feel free to say no if that’s how you really feel, because I’ll get over this if it’s not the right time,” Shae said earnestly as she picked at her plate of steamed veggies. “I just wanted you to know what was on my mind in case you felt the same…”

Starting his own meal, Cailus couldn’t resist a knowing grin as he started cutting up some ‘chicken’ that through Shae’s best efforts (and through skill honed through long practice), was actually rather pleasant for once. “Shae, when you decide to wear that dress, it’s always going to be on my mind. It’s not a fair fight.”

At that, however, he grew more somber, self-consciously reaching up to his hair. Strands of white were starting to crop up amidst the black, something highly unusual for a modern human in his mid forties. Occasional wrinkles were starting to creep up around his eyes too, a tell-tale sign of unusual aging; nobody else was showing the strain of their years yet. Cailus was still in good health, still as physically strong, quick and fit as ever, but there was no denying the change.

“Are you sure, though?” he asked hesitantly. “I know you don’t mind me getting older, Shae, and I love you for that, but our child...their father will be truly old in ten years time. We still don’t know what all those years in cryostasis will mean. It’s a cruel fate for a child to have such an aged father.”

He wasn’t wrong; outside the Bubble, any potential side effects of his cryostasis would have been completely treatable, but in here… In the Bubble, it was a sad fact that he could potentially be a ticking time bomb.

“I know, and you’re right, it’s weighed on my mind as well. But that’s part of the reason I chose now instead of waiting another year or two… Right now, you’re fine, you’re healthy, and hopefully you have enough years ahead of you to make some wonderful memories before… before the cryo-sickness takes hold. This is precious time we have now, I didn’t want to waste it by second guessing this choice,” Shae answered. “But it’s also the reason why I understand if you can’t do this.”

“Alright,” Cailus said softly. He sipped some more wine and felt the powerfully pleasant taste burn down his throat as time passed. He looked at Shae, eating her meal with such poise and elegance, as if she was a queen eating in exalted company. He watched the faint blue light dance of Shae’s cream hair, how her blue eyes seemed to shine in the low light. Even though he and Shae ate at that table every day, slept in that bed every night, it all felt powerfully sensual, as if a thick electric charge had descended upon them. Shae’s beauty was emphasised in such conditions, and Cailus could feel goosebumps on his skin.

“So we’re going to do this,” he finally said softly, breaking the silence. “We’re going to make a baby.”

“Only if you want to, dearheart; I know I want this, but I would never try to force you into something you truly weren’t willing to do,” Shae answered with a soft smile.

With the decision made, Cailus relaxed, giving Shae a teasing smile. “Do you want me to change my mind?” he asked lightly, waggling his eyebrows.

“No! Oh goodness no!” Shae replied with a laugh. “Honestly, I didn’t think you would come to a decision so quickly; I thought for certain that you would need some time to think it over.”

“Apparently not,” Cailus remarked wryly, continuing to attack his vegetables with tortuous slowness. “Now let’s finish this food. If my maths are correct, we’re going to need our energy tonight...and for the next week or so.” Now there was an unmistakable sense of relief in how Cailus smiled devilishly at Shae. “This time, we’re doing it properly.”

“Oh my!” Shae said with a smile and a rosy blush; even after all these years, she could still blush over sex… But she was excited, and if she must admit it, even a little nervous, but it made her so happy to look forward to creating a child with Cailus, and bringing that life into the world- er, Bubble, together. “I love you so much,” she said softly, pushing her plate aside; she had already eaten enough, she could always nibble on more later if she got hungry.

Grinning, and just barely restraining a chuckle at Shae’s pure affection, Cailus duly pushed his own plate aside and stood, moving around the table before crouching in front of Shae. He felt his blood quicken in anticipation as he took her hand in his own, allowing the pressure to build.

“This feels familiar, you and me like this,” he commented, smiling enigmatically as he looked into Shae’s eyes. “Like Wicklow.”

“Well, it has been a while since we’ve violated a dining table…” Shae replied, grinning wickedly. Then she cupped his cheek lovingly before leaning for a kiss; maybe it was because she was still young for her species, or maybe it was the hormones already rising in anticipation of her fertility cycle, but kissing him could still make her blood race like it was the first, and it amazed her that after all these years they could still find such passion when they came together.