Baby's First Subspace Call

Posted on Thu Sep 24th, 2015 @ 12:59pm by Chief Petty Officer Adriana Keen & Lieutenant Commander Morai Keen

3,812 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: A Civil Act
Location: USS Ranger - - Keen Family Quarters
Timeline: A Few Days After Keen to Meet the New Arrival

ON:

Adriana bent down to scoop Anthony up out of the cradle. She'd just finished dressing him and worried that she put a little cap on him too. He had on a blue onesie and was also wrapped in the pale yellow blanket they had picked out for him, but she worried he would get cold. Hospitals always kept babies in those little hats; should she be doing the same? He didn't feel cold when she touched his cheeks... That meant he was ok as he was, didn't it?

"How's my little cub, huh?" she murmured. "Warm enough? Are you, Anthony?" she asked, fretting much more than she needed to and deciding to put the little hat on after all.

Anthony squirmed a little in response and looked up at her with big, searching eyes, reacting to her voice. Just a few minutes ago he had been asleep, and he looked almost like he was ready to go back to sleep once more.

"Something tells me that he is a little on the tired side." Keen came along and offered to take the little one. "I can hold him if you want to get things ready before the call?" He hoped he was being helpful. "Now do we want the family waiting when they call or bring the Little Man in after everyone is there?"

"We can all be there to answer. All three of us," she said as she handed their son to her husband. She paused a moment as she reflected on that motion. Their son. It still almost seemed unreal. So long waiting to conceive, then the pregnancy, but now their son was here. She stroked Anthony's head and tears rose in her eyes. She was doing that a lot; ever since Anthony was born she was crying at the drop of a hat. Of course it might just be because she was so tired. The doctors had told her she would be a bit tired and weak but that was to be expected right now and not to let it worry her.

She brushed the tears off her cheeks. "Go on and have a seat, let me get cleaned up a little. I'll be right behind you."

"We will be right here, Mommie." Keen said as he sat down with Anthony and the smile upon his face playing with his son, all wrapped up in the blanket in a bundle with his head out and a little cap to keep his head from losing heat. "Mommie wants to make herself more pretty... I would like to see how she improves upon her perfect Mommie look."

Mommie looked at herself in the mirror and grimaced for a moment. She felt, and looked, pale and tired. Faint circles under her eyes. Hair a mess. She brushed the hair quickly and pulled it back with a big barrette, then threw on a favorite red sweater to try to give herself some color. Some cold water on her face woke her up a little more, or at least brought some color to her cheeks. And that was as good as it was going to get right now.

Of course, most of the attention would be on Anthony, so it didn't really matter what she looked like.

She joined Morai and Anthony in the main room and started sending the subspace call. They'd already arranged the time so the Joz house should be expecting it. Then she sat down next to 'the guys'. She touched Anthony's cheek again; was he getting red and overheated? "You don't think it's too warm for the cap?" she asked worriedly.

"It is a simple cap and I do not think he is overheating, Kitten." Morai assured as he passed Anthony back to his mother's loving arms. "Your clan is bigger so you get to hold the ... cub." Morai teased. "I will be surprised if Kenya is not present?"

"Kenya?" Adriana echoed, confused. They were calling Earth- Kenya was his sister, living on Bajor-

"When we call my family... sorry thinking ahead and all..." He tried to explain.

The Subspace call was picked up and Adriana jerked her eyes up to the screen.

Thankfully, the whole contingent of 20 Jozes including children was not waiting on the other side of the call. Edmund and Elinor Joz, called Da and Mams, and Adriana's youngest sibling Teddy were there but no more Jozes crowded around to get better views or have to shout to try to be heard.

"Hallow." Keen smiled. "We have someone who is ready to meet some grandparents and uncle." Keen introduced. "As you see, Little Anthony is ready for his first subspace?"

"Ads," Mams said first with a smile, addressing her daughter's obvious nervousness. "You're doing fine, I'm sure. Other than a bit tired, you look like you're doing just fine."

Adriana smiled a little at the reassurances from her Mams. After all, Mams had six children and helped raise a niece and nephew besides. She would know. Mams would know everything.

She adjusted the angle she was sitting at and how she was holding Anthony. "Here he is," she said, her voice a blend of pride, love, hope and a little fear. "Anthony, meet your Mams, Da and Uncle Teddy," she said softly. It was a family quirk that "Mams and Da" were "Mams and Da" to the grandchildren, too. There had been attempts to change the names to Grams and Granda, but it had only been marginally successful and after a few grandchildren had picked up on Mams and Da they had given up and just let the next generation call them the same thing as the previous one.

Mams smiled and sighed. "Oh, Ads, he's perfect," she said as she waved at her newest grandson.

"Looking just like you, Ads; look at his eyes looking right at us. They know his Da already," Da said with a huge smile for the young man whose middle name was named after him. "Anthony Edmund, good name to live up to," he said.

Teddy smiled. "His mother's eyes, but look at that chin- that's all from the Keen family." His artist's eye traced the curves of the baby's face, really all they could see because of the blanket and hat. "And the nose; those three perfect, clear and prominent, ridges." He looked up at Keen. "He's your son, too. He's just a perfect blend of both of you."

Keen had to admit that he could not say much for that first second; holding his breath as he felt silly; in a passing thought the Joz Clan would not accept an alien, but that came from a past he tried to grow beyond. His smile might be put with pride in some circles but not for Morai; it was a sense of being blessed, he did not have pride in the fact his genes had created this beautiful son, but the knowing that the Prophets smiled upon the child and the love of Kitten to bring Anthony into the universe.

"The Prophets did look fondly upon us." Morai replied. "I-I wish this could have been a special delivery but the Ship is on mission." He smiled. "Adriana has a little down time from duty, I think Little Anthony is being quite normal in his wanting to be with his mother, they did spend a lot of time together, but he does like to be with me, as though he knows when K- Adriana needs some rest. He is very bright for a newborn."

Teddy stated to laugh while Da and Mams just smiled knowingly. “At least Jer waited until his oldest was a whole month old before he started saying the child was a prodigy! You are going to be one of those parents; started before the kid is even a week old!"

"Okay, I could tell you that I believe the best of my Beloved child." He smiled. "He is the child of Adriana and we know how bright she is?" He joked. "I am just trying to say that Anthony knows when his mother needs a break."

"Which is quite a bit, if I remember those days," Mams said with a smile.

Da grinned. "That's about how I remember it. Of course, it helps that he's probably sleeping about 18 hours a day himself right about now. But even asleep it's hard to beat just holding and rocking a newborn, perfect baby."

"I will agree that he is perfect." Keen said. "There is a file of the pictures from the birth that I am forwarding now that you have seen him." He told them. "I am sorry that I could not get anything before Adriana could be the one to present him to you."

"Nonsense, of course she wanted to show him off to us herself," Mams said. "She's waited an awful long time for this, if you recall."

Teddy rubbed his hands together, almost itching to get his hands on the images and wondering what or if he'd be inspired to create when he saw them. "Do you mind if I paint him?" he asked. "I mean, not just for you two, I'll send you something as soon as I have one done, but I mean for the collection? To add to the show I put on before?"

Adriana shook her head, but looked at her husband for permission as well. "I don't mind, I guess. Not if it'll go in the show. Morai?" she prompted. She liked the idea of adding an image of Anthony to the show- Teddy wouldn't put Anthony’s name on it she was sure- but his big show had been about Love and how it knew no boundaries of race or color or planet. And Anthony was a living, breathing embodiment of that.

"I think he just wants to show how the real result of our love compares to his conception?" Morai said. "To show how the idea behind his art can really be?" he smiled. "I see no better message than how life mimics art?"

Adriana smiled at him and then turned back to her little brother. "Go ahead then, Teddy. I can't wait to see what you come up with."

"Great, thank you," Teddy said with an excited smile.

"Now how are you doing, Adriana?" Mams asked as she gazed down at the baby still. "Morai said there were some problems in the delivery."

"Scared us all half to death, calling and telling us you were in sickbay before he mentioned that it was because the baby was a bit early," Da said with a shake of his head.

"Next time I will keep the details for the post birth report." Keen chuckled. "She was in the best hands she could be; the Chief Medical Officer had done Bajoran births so adapting to our needs was nothing for her." Keen defended.

"I'm doing alright. Just a bit weaker and more tired than most new mothers, according to the doctors. But I've almost entirely recovered from the complications. Now I'm just trying to take care of Anthony." She looked down at Anthony with a concerned frown. "He's lost a little weight, I think," she fretted.

"That's normal, dear. And so is that ever so slight yellow tinge he's got at the moment. Most babies lose a little bit of weight and get a little jaundiced in the first couple weeks," Mams assured both of the parents.

"I was beginning to wonder if he had Rigellian flu?" Keen said with a bright smile, trying to do the humor in his reaction. "Luckily there is a medical technician very close by should the need arise." Keen assured them all. "He can be there faster than a transporter in most cases."

"What did you do, move into his living room?" Da asked with a laugh.

"I am a qualified first responder." Keen informed. "I learned a lot during the war and it has been augmented by training while in Star Fleet." He explained. "One of my best and longest friends is a Trill Medical Chief; she was very helpful in making sure I got the right knowledge."

"Let's just hope you don't need any of the first responder training," Adriana said as she cuddled Anthony a little closer at the idea of him being hurt and needing emergency medical attention.

"You'll be fine," Teddy said with a slight eye roll but stopped suddenly and looked off the screen. "Uh oh, I gotta go. The other line is ringing- probably Shariava," he said as he jumped up. "Good to see you, bye-bye Anthony, talk to you again soon. Love you, Ads" he said as he hurried away.

"Bye, Teddy," Adriana said to the space where he had been sitting, surprised and a little dismayed at the sudden disappearance.

Mams sighed deeply and seemed to struggle to bite back something she didn't want to say.

"So, Mams." Keen smiled in a wry way. "I know that look is not for little Anthony." He started. "What are you not telling us?" He asked. "I can tell you do not approve of his choices?"

"I suppose it's a little early for this advice, but perhaps you'll remember it about 15 or 20 years: Never speak ill of your son's current girlfriend. It will only prompt him to defend her and want to stick with her even more," Mams said diplomatically.

"Rather like you should be careful about forbidding your daughter from seeing a boy you don't approve of; that will just make her run to him even faster," Da said with a laugh and a pointed look at Adriana.

Adriana made a face. "I was 19 and he was a Bad Boy Rock Star; my tender young heart didn't stand a chance," she defended herself. "And we're talking about Teddy, not me."

"You met her. In the few minutes you spent with her, I think you were well able to see the kind of woman Shariava is. But Teddy is infatuated with her still. He might even be in love with her. We're just waiting for the crash and will be here when he hits bottom," Mams said.

"We all have to make our own mistakes and I am one to testify to that." Keen said. "Though if she wants to be with someone he could do worst." He chuckled. "It could be she cares for him, but if he falls he will have family to help him back up."

Mams sighed. "Yes. But as you'll find out, it hurts in a very unique way to watch your child be hurt or struggle," she said.

Adriana rocked Anthony a little bit as he started to fuss. "I think we have a few other milestones yet before we worry about his heart getting broken. Holding his head up. Smiling," she said, listing about the two earliest things babies actually did.

Da and Mams both laughed. "First things first," he agreed.

"After this mission we will be heading back to Earth I believe, science survey so we will need to bring telemetery home." Keen told a half truth. "And for right now I am safe on the ship, Bridge Duty as the Captain is an Archeologist so she is heading down and the XO is going along so I end up with Bridge Duty."

"That's good. You need time with your son, and your wife. These first few weeks are important for bonding," Da said.

"And it's nice that Starfleet can and will accommodate you two- I mean three," Mams said with a grin.

"The Captain came to see me while I was still in sickbay. She... seems like she'll be as supportive as she can be," Adriana said hopefully. "And Blake, my boss, was great during the pregnancy- always making sure I wasn't pushing too hard or anything, even being more careful than he needed to be."

"We seem to have found a vessel that is quite accommodating and supportive." Keen said. "It does give the impression of an extended family, Anthony will be quite comfortable in his surroundings, I have even managed to gather a list of reliable nurses and other civilians on board that will aid in the babysitting should the need arise?" He looked to Mams and Da. "Nothing to compare to the grandparents care but in a pinch I am sure they will do?"

Adriana looked a little surprised. "Who?" she asked a bit incredulously. This was the first she had heard of a babysitter list; she didn't know who any of these people were or anything about them!

"The Captain, and a few others who came recommended." Keen said calmly. "I am just doing what a father must and making a list of possibilities to be interviewed." He did not skip a beat. "Several in the Medical Staff have volunteered for the duty so I was going to suggest starting with them." He winked. "So, Da, any wisdom for the first few weeks to survive sleep deprivation?" He tried to change the subject.

"Coffee," Da said simply with a little laugh. "Though that's only going to help you, not Adriana just yet."

Adriana was still looking shocked, and maybe a bit offended, about the babysitter list, so Mams chimed in quickly. "For you, Adriana, just the old 'sleep when the baby sleeps' advice. Even if you can't fall asleep, when Anthony's napping you can still lie down and close your eyes. Don't worry about all the chores you'll think you 'should be doing'; just rest- and let Morai take care of the housework," she said with a wink and a grin very much like daughter's.

"One house husband." Keen said as he already did help around the house; they shared the work and for his wife and child he did not mind taking on extra chores. "Ractajino is a strong stimulant, I think that will work nicely." He beamed. "How much storage on the small ship we reside upon should we get for what will be waiting our return. I know you all wish to help so the question is what will we need? That depends upon when we get back to Earth; it will be on how old Anthony is?" He could feel he needed to get Adriana off her present mindset.

Da smiled. "We'll restrain ourselves from too many big purchases. I know you built the baby furniture you need, so you don't need more cribs and changing tables. Books, toys and clothing- that's it, we promise."

"Well, and Teddy's art. But we'll try to convince him not to make a 20 foot high marble sculpture," Mams said with a laugh.

Adriana did smile at that. Teddy could get... a little carried away when his muse got hold of him. But since he was also incredibly gifted, it was hard to hold it against him. "His other sculpture of us, the bust of our faces together, was small and tasteful. I'm sure for a baby he'll manage to keep it nice," she said with all the confidence a woman could have in a little brother who was as close as Teddy was to her.

I look forward to Little Anthony being a part of the Joz clan in a more physical sense of the word." Keen admitted. "He is yet unaware of the loving support he will have when he arrives." Keen told them and squeezed Adriana a bit. "I am sure Adriana would relish in swapping stories of the baby with you as I am sure we will have a few by the time we can be on your door." He smiled. "Though I think Greta might have to wait for Anthony to be along for a ride?"

"Keen Morai, don't you even think about taking that child anywhere near that contraption!" Mams said, sounding horrified at the thought of the baby on a motorcycle.

Da laughed at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "He just said they would have to wait for a bit. Quite a long bit, I'm thinking, at least several years, even for that sidecar thing. In the meanwhile, whenever you two get the urge to go gallivanting off on that rolling antique, we'll take care of our grandson," he offered happily.

"I love my wife and my son and will not neglect their individual needs if I can help it." Keen smiled. "Though I had hoped that maybe a ride or two might be allowed while you fawn over your newest grandson? There are no more trustworthy hands to entrust Anthony to while we take a picnic day for ourselves I think." He winked at Adriana. "I still desire time gazing into the sky on a cloudless day."

Adriana smiled a little even as her eyes filled with tears. She was still very emotional. She began to lean towards her husband for a kiss when Anthony started to fuss again; he was about to start crying.

"It seems someone might be hungry." Keen said with a smile. "Literally a growing boy." He mused. "Well Mams and Da, you will understand if we see to a young man's needs?" Keen offered to take Anthony, letting Adriana have some time with her parents. "I can take care of him for a minute while you have time alone." He winked and accepted his son. "Be well..." He said before letting the grandparents get a last good look at Anthony. "Say ta ta to your grandparents." He bid and moved away to give Kitten her time.

Adriana looked uncertain as she handed Anthony to her husband. "I'll be right there to give you your dinner, Anthony. Just a minute."

Mams and Da waved goodbye to Anthony and Mams blew a kiss or two. "Bye, Anthony. And bye, Morai. We love you." Then they turned to Adriana.

"Love you too, Ads. He's a fine looking boy already. You'll be fine, my girl," Da said. He then followed his son-in-law's example and left the girls for a moment.

Mams smiled at Adriana. "I know, Sweetheart. I know it's all overwhelming and wonderful and scary and amazing all at once. But you're not alone. Morai is there, and I'm here. You'll be fine. You'll settle in and get the hang of it, just in time for everything to change, and you'll get the hang of that, too."

Adriana smiled at her Mams and almost started to cry again. Sometimes you just needed your mother, who always knew just what to say.

Anthony's cry came from the other room and Adriana almost jumped up to run to him. "Go on, Ads. Your son needs you. I love you, honey."

"Thank you, Mams. I love you, too." Adriana smiled and waved, then closed the channel and ran for her crying son.

OFF:


LtCMDR Morai Keen
Chief Counselor/ 2XO

Chief Petty Officer Adriana Keen
Operations Officer

 

RSS Feed