Time Going away 2

Posted on Thu Oct 20th, 2016 @ 3:58pm by Lieutenant Verdeath Newmark

1,530 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: Docking area.
Timeline: BACKPOST prior departure

OLD


The smile she gave him now was small but it was real. "I know. I love your mother. Depending on how strict the bedrest Doc orders is, I might have very little choice about how much help and company I have though. I'm just... It's unnerving to have so little control. It scares me," she admitted quietly. Nhallia was the kind of person who got angry when she was scared or hurt. And when Nhallia got angry she lashed out, often by throwing things, though she had kept that in check for the past few years....



NEW

"Doc has a lot of experience with people; he will weigh you against what you can handle." Newmark said. "You might get less freedom than you want but more than you think, he is strange that way." He assured. "I did not have them do anything but let it be known 'I' am not back so no party central. You might get the occasional party pal but they shoo off quickly. There were more beach and Bar-B-Que types."



The idea of a party was exhausting. She didn't want anyone to see her like this- she felt like a beached whale! But it was Risa. Nhallia knew she couldn't be entirely a hermit, not if Verdeth ever wanted to show his face at home again. "Maybe something SMALL," she hedged. "Just an short afternoon thing. No full BBQ, just drinks and snacks...."



"After the baby." Newmark said. "If you want a few of my friends to do a little dinner style gathering to talk and such they are fairly eager to tell the tales of my exploits I am sure." He chuckled. "Just do not let Mother go over board on the Baby Shower to where I need my own star Ship to bring it all home."



Nhallia wrinkled her nose. "Baby shower? No- no baby shower- not before you're there to tell her yourself. Don't you know it's bad luck to have a shower before the baby is born?" And that had been the prevailing wisdom on Earth at once time. About 500 years ago.



With all the gear stowed, Kit and Stevie popped back in. "A baby shower? Your mother wouldn't throw a baby shower that we couldn't get to, would she?" Stevie interjected, acting hurt. "Of course, sweetie, if you had just let us have for you already, you wouldn't have to worry about Veda going overboard." She slipped her arm around Nhallia's shoulder. "Don't worry- Veda's excited, but she knows you're coming there to rest, not to have lavish parties and showers. She'll just want to give you and your little bean lots of presents like any doting Grandma. Isn't that right, huh little bean?" she said as she turned her attention to Nhallia's stomach in a way that had been annoying Nhallia for months now....



"Speaking of being excited," Kit said with a grin and she gently pulled Stevie out of the reach of Nhallia's belly.



"I am confidant Mother and baby will be well cared for." Newmark said. "Mother will keep things low key for her; everyone in her circle will be on pins and needles but that is a small group." He put an arm around her. "Mother is very aware of Earth traditions." He chuckled. "She raised me by them so I do not think that a minor little thing like the timing of a Baby Shower will be missed."



"I'd rather not have one at all," Nhallia muttered, shuddering at the thought of having to sit through hours of baby-related talk, ridiculous games, and opening endless packages of revoltingly cute baby-paraphernalia.



"So tell her you don't want a traditional shower, but be sure to thank her for every gift she lovingly picks out for her grandchild," Kit said reasonably. "Do you think she'll really care that much if there's no big fussy thing, especially if you are not physically up to it? You can have a gathering after the baby is born for people to meet the little tyke instead. That should cover the Risan tradition of hospitality and gathering and breaking bread together. Don't you think so, Doc?"



"I think a small 'coming out' gathering for the child is a good representation and if anyone wishes to bless the child with something they do it then." Newmark said. "But by the time this comes an issue I will be there to screen the requests for mama and baby time."



"You'd better be. Because there is no WAY I am doing this without you. I'll have Doc put me in a stasis field before I do that," Nhallia said in that scared/angry mixture again. She reached an arm out to wrap tightly around Verdeth's waist as she said it, as if tethering him to her for later when she needed him.



"This is not something that I am going to miss I can assure you." Newmark gave an assuring squeeze to his wife. "We are in this together and will see it to the end." He winked and kissed her forehead. "You just are giving my mother some bonding and having a daughter time. She is really looking forward to it."



"I want to see her too. I guess most women would want their mom for this. And she's the only Mom I have," Nhallia said with a little shrug.



"And the only one you'll need, right?" Stevie said. "Veda is more of a mom than a mother-in-law anyway. And she absolutely adores you, which can't be bad."



"I think Mother would almost trade me in were it not she gets Nhallia anyway as a daughter in law." Newmark joked. "And that baby is going to be so spoiled by her if her words are anything to be taken seriously." He smiled to his wife. "You definitely have family on Risa I can tell you."



Kit was checking the time. "Almost time to depart, we better get off or she'll have more family on Risa than she bargained for just yet," she pointed out. She gave Nhallia a quick hug then only stayed long enough for Stevie to get her longer, more exuberant hug before dragging the redhead off to give the old married couple a chance to say say good-bye in private.



Faced with now having to say good-bye, Nhallia suddenly faced doubt and confusion. Verdeth was the only reason she had gotten along with this much of her sanity intact- how could she do without him, even for a little while and even with the ocean there? She craved the wide space, the salt air, the breeze.... But without him? She didn't say anything, just reached for him and buried her face in his shoulder.



"It is okay My Lady." He said quietly and held her close. "I will be there soon enough, by the time you realize I am missing I will be there again.... promise." He just held her close and did not give sign that he was going to let her go anytime soon despite having to.



"So you're on the next transport that leaves in a couple hours? Ok, I can handle that," she joked, even though she got a bit choked up as she said it. "I think I already miss you, just thinking about how you're not going to be there tonight when I fall asleep. We haven't been apart since we got married. Not for more than a day, I don't think. Even if we were busy or pulling opposite shifts or doubles, we were on the same ship, we were together...."



"By the time you get settled into the house and routine I will be there, you might even think I am a wet blanket compared to all the affections you will have poured onto you." Newmark laughed.



[Last call for guest to disembark, ten minutes to launch.] The announcement came over the speakers.



Nhallia tightened her grip on Verdeth for a moment. "I love you. I'm sorry I've been so hard to live with lately," she blurted out as if she might never get the chance to tell him again.



"You are my life, Nhallia." Newmark said as he spoke. "I kind of had an idea of what I might be in for." He hinted. "Doctor and all so I went in knowing full well and loved you more for you letting me in on it." He looked into her eyes. "I will miss you dearly and I hope Mother enjoys the time as it will not be often, I assure you, she gets your undivided time."



Tears rose in her eyes and she lifted her chin for a quick kiss, they didn't have time for more than that, before she left him go. She held up the sign for 'I love you', since she couldn't speak past the rising lump in her throat.



Newmark matched the sign with his hand and gave her a final kiss; lingering a bit but not so long as to be late getting back to the Calypso.



"Take Care of yourself." He winked and started to go letting his hand linger before departing into the corridor.


TBC

 

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