Rock-A-Bye Babies

Posted on Tue Feb 2nd, 2021 @ 8:41am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Emilie Temple & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith

Mission: The Gauntlet
Location: Deck 2 - Senior Crew Quarters
Timeline: After "Unexpected Holodeck Arrival"

ON:

The doors swished open on the Temple family quarters as Nyx emerged with a large wicker basket covered in cellophane and bows. Nyx struggled to hold up the basket as he walked into the corridor, quickly followed by Emilie, who had baby William in a carrier over her chest while holding onto Katrine's hand. Inside the weighty gift were blankets, cloth diapers, wipes, oils and ointments, booties in gender-neutral colours, soft toys, and a light projector that soothed newborn babies that Emilie swore by.

"Virkelig!" Nyx cursed as he swapped hands to try to hold up the basket, "How much is in this thing?"

Emilie was ensuring the doors locked behind them but she giggled a little at Nyx's struggle. "I've had a lot of time on my hands and I wanted to get the Smiths everything they needed."

"Everything they needed?" Nyx exclaimed, "Till when? When the kids go to college?!"

Katrine laughed. "That's a long time, daddy!"

"I know." Nyx remarked with a laugh.

"Krysia is a first-time mother. Remember how much we struggled the first few months with just one kid?" Emilie replied patiently as she joined his side, Katrine skipping happily ahead of them. "You always think you have everything until it's 2am and your secondary back-up diaper supply has run out."

"We have replicators, darling, they can give Kaleri and Smith everything they need." Nyx sighed, still not quite finding a comfortable position. He made a mental note to skip the gym today, it was no longer needed.

"She's had twins, Nycolas. Not even the replicators can handle that much... necessity." Emilie said knowingly.

After a pause, Nyx frowned and asked, "This is one of those subjects I should just agree with you on, right?"

"Indeed." She answered, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

It wasn't long before the Temples arrived at the Smith's door and they allowed Katrine to press the chime, which she did enthusiastically.

Krysia was resting on the sofa, the twins sleeping quietly not far away. She called to enter rather than making her guests wait outside the door for her to get up. As the door opened she smiled warmly as Nyx and his family entered. “Captain, Emilie, Katrine! Please come in and make yourselves at home.” Her eyes fell on the huge present Nyx was carrying. “Heavens is that for us?”

Nyx lugged the gift onto the nearby table, but made sure to place it down gently so as not to disturb the twins. "Apparently you needed everything ever invented for babies." he remarked.

Emilie ignored the comment as she moved over to Kaleri to give her arm a squeeze, "How are you doing?"

“I’m tired but okay” Krysia smiled warmly. “The upside of having a mental connection with the twins is that they settle easier feeling my presence. Like Betazoids they won’t develop their abilities yet but they can still ‘feel’ me. I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting to give birth so soon but I’m not complaining. James has been amazing! He’s helped with everything, he’s very hands on with the twins.” She smiled at Katrine. “You can have a look if you like Katrine, they sleep soundly between meals I doubt you’ll wake them.”

Katrine had been waiting patiently, "Can I?!" She called out, looking to her mother and father.

"If you're very quiet. Remember, it's just like when William is sleeping." Emilie said gently, indicating to her napping baby. Emilie sat down on the couch, relieving herself of the baby carrier so she could hold William properly.

"I'll take her." Nyx said, and Emilie gave her an appreciative smile. "Last thing we need is him waking up."

Katrine was already pulling on her father's hand. "Can we see them now?" She asked impatiently. Nyx obliged and the two went off to view the newborns.

Krysia smiled as she looked at Emilie and William. “How are you getting on with your newest family member? You had quite the unexpected delivery yourself from what I heard.”

Emilie placed William on her knee and started to bounce him a little, the boy giggling as he did. "Stuck in a turbo lift with no one but a Chief Engineer to deliver your baby is hard to beat, but I think malfunctioning holodeck might have been worse."

“It wasn’t much fun!” Krysia nodded in agreement. “The worst was the Borg by far! At the time the holodeck safeties were off and I experienced what it’s like to be assimilated!” She shook her head. “I’m just glad that holographically generated nanites don’t exist outside the holodeck or you’d have had a problem on your hands.” She looked at William then back at Emilie. “I have a very good idea how Aeryn must have felt now, it was a terrifying experience!”

"Goodness." Emilie breathed, "How awful. It's wonderful that yourself and the babies came out of that unharmed. Any idea what caused it?"

Krys shook her head. “No, we just went to the holodeck to make a call to my father. It all went pear shaped from there. I’m just glad I had Owen there to work miracles and Mason to help with the delivery. James managed to get in just in time to be there too. Now I have two wonderful children.” She smiled proudly.

Emilie smiled, "A miracle. They tend to happen quite a bit around here. So you're on mat-leave now?"

Krysia nodded. “A bit earlier than planned.” She smiled then lowered her voice. “I heard about ... Aoife. How is Katrine coping with the loss of her friend?”

It was like the air went out of Emilie's lungs as she remembered that news. She'd been trying to put it out of her mind, it was too difficult to comprehend. Emilie took in a long breath before she answered, "Katrine knows, but I don't think she fully understands. She thinks Aoife is just sick and will come back one day. Unfortunately, we were both there when Aoife collapsed, it was horrible."

Krysia nodded. “I can only imagine. If you need to talk about it my door is always open.” She smiled warmly. “To be honest I think being a mother is going to be my greatest challenge yet!”

"It feels so unfair." Emilie sighed, "We get to enjoy this beautiful babies and they've just lost their child? I've tried not to mention the kids or bring them around for a while."

Krysia nodded. “It’s difficult, I can’t even imagine how I’d feel if anything happened to either of my children. It’s a nightmare no parent would want to face.” She shook her head. “I feel so sorry for them.”

Emilie could only shake her head, "I wish there was something we could do. It was just so sudden and awful, no parent should have to go through that. I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to take some extended leave."

Krysia nodded. “It’s what I’d be suggesting if they came to see me. I would go and see them but they may not want to talk right now. I’ll give it some time, besides I have my hands full at the moment. I’m going to have to learn to juggle a career and motherhood now.” She smiled at the twins.

"Oh boy, you definitely will." Emilie nodded knowingly, happy to change the subject. "Especially raising them on a starship. It's a constant worry, you know, if they're getting enough of a natural environment. It's also hard to get them onto a proper sleep schedule when the ship is moving and there's always things happening. Second one has been easier, but raising two little ones on an active Starfleet service has it's challenges."

Krysia nodded. “I’m going to have to arrange childcare whilst I’m working, the nursery does look wonderful. I’ll just need to learn how to switch off being a worrying parent whilst I’m away from the twins.” She looked at Emilie. “How do you do it? How do you cope being away from your children?”

Emilie gave a sheepish shrug, “To be honest, it hasn’t been much of an issue. When Katrine was younger, I was at home with her as we settled on Earth. Once we were on the Pandora, I worked in the Education department, so I was never really that far away.” She smiled, “I’m not sure when I’m going back now, and I’m not in much of a rush to either.”

Krysia smiled warmly. “That’s good. To be honest I’d be lost without James. When we were in the bubble universe, the birth of my first child almost killed me. That was my greatest fear, that history would repeat itself but I’m glad that it didn’t. I was afraid of leaving James to cope alone, at least I don’t have to worry anymore.” She smiled at Katrine who was curiously observing the twins. “You’re welcome to visit anytime Katrine, plus you’ll see the twins at the school nursery too.”

Katrine had been doing her best to be silent as she watched the babies, trying to whisper into Nyx's ear when she had questions. Nyx intently listened then smiled, "Why don't you ask their mommy?"

The girl walked carefully over to where Krysia and Emilie were talking and gently tapped the counsellor on the arm, "What are the baby names?"

Krysia smiled warmly “Their names are Amelia and Joseph.” She smiled at Emilie, it was a nice feeling to be part of the parent fraternity onboard ship.

"Amee-la. Joe-sef." Katrine tried to repeat the names back, "Is that it?"

“Close enough. You could always call them Amy and Joe if you like.” Krysia grinned.

Katrine giggled, "The girl name sounds like my mommy's name." She declared, as if there was somehow a big secret.

"It does." Emilie replied, holding out her hand so that Katrine would come to her side. Emilie turned to Kaleri, "Well, I don't wish to take up too much of your time. Thank you for allowing us to visit."

“The pleasure is all mine” Krys smiled warmly. “It was getting a little lonely. Thank you for coming and for the lovely gifts!”

"We'll have to arrange a baby play date or something." Emilie said, "And discuss secret mother's business." She gave a nudge to her husband.

"And we can babysit, too." Nyx immediately said, "If you guys need a break."

“Thank you Captain, but only if you’re sure? You have your own family to look after without having two more thrust on you.” Krysia smiled.

"He's sure." Emilie insisted. "I don't know if Smith has felt this yet, but sometimes some men see their new born child and get the very insane idea that they would like more. Many more, in fact. And it's easy for them to suggest such a thing because they're not the ones carrying around the baby for nine months and then giving birth. So, my darling husband would love to offer to babysit your twins, Krysia, so that he will never, ever suggest having more kids with me again."

Nyx had remained quiet like a misbehaving child, pinching his mouth together in quiet innocence. He merely shrugged to the Counsellor, "I don't think it'll work, but I'm happy to help you out."

Krysia grinned. “Well I’m not averse to a big family but I think it’d have to wait a while.” She looked at Emilie. “I just feel blessed to have not just my family here but the family aboard the ship. Everyone here has become family to me, I’m honoured to be here.”

Emilie smiled, as did Nyx. "I know the feeling." She said gently.

OFF