Calling home (Continued)

Posted on Sat Mar 31st, 2018 @ 3:33am by Ensign Nhallia Newmark

1,278 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Pulling Together
Location: Risa, Newmark Home

Old

Stevie looked at her a little blankly.  "Ok.  But, uh... Nhallia, you don't speak Nuvian.  And I wasn't aware that Doc was fluent in it, either.  So...  why?" she asked a little bluntly, but not meant to be unkind, just trying to understand.

New
 
Nhallia took a deep breath.  She had just spent the last nine months in torment, and she had never, ever, been able to get attached to Mommy or Mama or even plain Mom, like she called her mother-in-law.  The sound of 'mommy' in reference to her had made her squirm uncomfortably and she'd just... didn't like it.  After Aurea was born, she still hadn't been able to get past that feeling of distaste.  "I don't exactly have a... good association with the word 'mommy'," she tried to explain, knowing that Stevie wasn't being judgemental or mean.  "Ever since I was four, it was associated with pain, rejection, loss, and a reminder of one more thing that other kids had and I didn't.  There's no warmth in that word for me."  She shrugged.  "Maisha is a clean slate, so when Verdeth said it the first time....  I liked it."
 
"Stevie, I was born on Risa but My mother 'is' Nuvian and my Father Human. Mother just is a business woman on Risa and I am technically Risan by Birth because my Mother resided here when I came into the universe. Just like Aurea here.." He chuckled. "I learned three languages growing up, but Risan is my Mother's native language."
 
"I didn't mean anything- I just never really heard you speak Nuvian- or Risan.  Nhallia uses sign all the time, so we know she speaks it, so I was just a little surprised, is all," Stevie defended herself.  "I didn't mean anything by it..."
 
"It means I should open up more to family." Newmark winked. "I also speak a little Ferengi and a touch of Orion." He thought for a second. "oh and Old Earth Latin for the pharmaceutical part of being able to prescribe medicines." He smiled. "But Nuvian is a soft sounding language ; almost musical if spoken in the right tone." He laughed. "It is another of the 'Slave' languages like Orion; only without the Pirate aspects of it." He looked at the two girls that were closer than family. "I tend to keep things quiet, came from being Doctor confidentiality, I will loosen up, promise."
 
"You're fine, Doc," Kit assured him and shot Stevie a look.  "Stevie should really just start every conversation with her foot in her mouth and save herself the time and trouble of putting it there."
 
"Too bad she is asleep," Newmark changed the subject, referring to Aurea, "she has her mother's eyes that sparkle with a radiance it is hard to describe. I think she got the best parts of Maisha here." He ran fingers along her back as he did often as a sign of affection. "And not the Nuvial handicap..." He held up his six fingered hand.
 
"There's nothing wrong with your hands," Nhallia said reflexively.  "And if Aurea had six fingers there'd be nothing wrong with that either." 
 
Kit touched Stevie's shoulder to keep her from saying something embarrassing.  Again.  Smiling in understanding, the blonde nodded.  "I get it, Doc.  Not quite fitting the mold... makes things just a little bit awkward.  Maybe it's not a 'big deal' and maybe it's not 'wrong', but it's something you are aware of.  And for your child, you naturally want everything as smooth as possible."
 
"That is the General idea." He chuckled. "Wish you were here, Nhallia is able to get in the water but not surf yet, I cannot play an instrument so I think she is getting the bug and cabin fever?"
 
Kit laughed a little.  "Not that you can tell by looking at her.  I never saw someone so perfectly at ease and content for the moment.  You've got that... glow going on, Nhallia," she pointed out.
 
Nhallia smiled and blushed just a bit.  She had been doing quite a bit of 'glowing' lately.  Since Aurea had been born, she had felt so... euphoric, most of the time.  So many new mothers had frightened her with stories of not sleeping for weeks, not having time to shower, being in a half-dead-daze for the first three months of mother-hood, but she'd been spared so much of that.  She hadn't had any but the smallest of troubles with feedings and she had so much help with changing and rocking and walking and holding, Aurea had devoted grandparents and father who loved to share those burdens when mother needed a nap, that Nhallia was practically catching up on the sleep she had lost when pregnant.  And when she was awake, Aurea was usually in her arms, which just made Nhallia want to melt and coo and wallow in her contentment.  She had never dreamed having a daughter would be anything like this.
 
"I have been quite happy lately," she admitted as she shifted Aurea onto her shoulder.  Aurea was starting to squirm; there was maybe a bit of tummy-gas developing and little miss needed to burp....
 
"Now once we leave the ever present when needed Grandmother, then we could have a few problems of being more normal." He joked."And since we are married they do not let us work the same department and most of the time even the same shift so I hope there will be time?" He was pulling the girls chains in a way. "I mean we will be losing two of our support crew after all..."
 
"Doc!" Stevie started to protest, "If you think we'll let you two ever be in need-"
 
Kit grabbed Stevie's shoulder again.  "Stevie, really- Honestly, Doc, Nhallia, you guys have been gone too long, Stevie's forgotten how to take a joke.  God knows I can't keep her in practice.  You'd better get back here before she forgets how to laugh and smile or there goes the band..."
 
"That thought never crossed my mind." Newmark said with a grin. "I was talking about the week long trip to Vulcan." He added. "Mother has not left Risa since I was born; she will be here for us but the trip is alone." He explained. "Besides I think once our little bundle here gets to the Calypso there wil be two aunts spoiling her." He winked. "Just as it should be , and I'll bet Kit might have to wrestle a little for her turn if I know Stevie?"
 
Kit smirked.  "No contest," she said confidently, and she was probably right.  Kit was by far the most proficient in hand-to-hand combat.  Stevie was better than Nhallia, to be sure, but no match for Kit.
 
"You have to sleep sometime," Stevie mock-threatened.
 
"Now, girls," Nhallia said, adopting a pretty passable 'mom-voice', though she was laughing at the same time.  "Don't make me turn this space-ship around.  You two learn to share or no more visits to Risa."
 
"That would mean no more free- Family discounts at My Mother's Spa days." Newmark added. "Come to think of it you have better odds at holding Aurea on the ship there are only two of you." He posed a point. "Never mind competition with grand parents..."
 
“I’m not at all worried,” Stevie said blithely.  “What new parents don’t want- and need!- a little break every now and then?  But I have to admit, as adorable as she is- and she is a cute-ums wee biddle-kins- you do know what the best part of being an Auntie is, right?”  She paused, then continued with a laugh.  “You get to give them back!”

TBC

 

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