A Mams with a Plan: Pt 1

Posted on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 @ 3:28am by Chief Petty Officer Adriana Keen & Lieutenant Commander Morai Keen

1,688 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Repairs and Relaxation
Location: Keen Family Quarters

ON:

Mams bounced her grandson on her hip, dancing him around the living room as she tidied up. She had been getting eight hours of sleep a night recently, which she knew 'the kids' hadn't, and as she was here to not just meet Anthony, but to help out, she was starting right away doing all those little things that are not as important when running on about three hours of not very good sleep.

And she had a lot of experience juggling an infant and the chores. After six children, a niece and nephew who lived with them, and now the next generation of babies, there wasn't a whole lot that she hadn't seen and figured out a way to deal with.

"And it's never too early for you to start helping, little mister," she said with a laugh as she waggled a burp cloth at Anthony until he reached out and grabbed it, freeing a hand for picking up the bottle that had been on the table next to it. "Thank you. Such a good helper! Yes you are," she cooed at him as she headed for the so-called-kitchen to wash the bottle and toss the burp cloth into the basket with the other dirty ones.

"Oh Mams..." Keen said as he came out of the bedroom after a sleep. "I-I did not mean to be out that long... " He had on running attire. "How long was I , we, out for?"

"Hello, dear. Not too long, it's fine. You two obviously needed the rest," Mams said. She turned around and gave him an understanding but no-nonsense look. "There's no shame in needing help. You know that. Adriana has been needing a lot. You can admit how much you've been helping her, and that it hasn't all been easy. Especially to those who love you the most and just want to be there for you."

"SHe is suffering from a form of Post-Partum." Keen said calmly. "And as a Counselor I know this but I cannot figure out how to fix it so I have been just working to help out ..." He sigh. "A lot, she is really having a hard time and it is with things I have seen her do with her nieces and nephews."

"It's different when it's your own child," Mams admitted. "And... he may be alright at the moment, but I have to say, I am already getting that Anthony is not an easy baby. Colic, and trouble feeding?" she asked with a little shake of the bottle.

"Yes, he is fussy at feeding times and such." He tilt his head slightly. "WHat are we looking at?"

"Everything in Adriana says that she should be able to do this. That nursing, comforting, changing, bathing, even sleeping, is all supposed to be 'natural'. And what is natural should come easy, right? So when it's not easy, you feel like less of a mother. You feel like you're... broken. Like you've failed at the single most important thing you could ever, ever do." Mams shifted Anthony up onto her shoulder and closed her eyes for a second, obviously remembering similar doubts and hardships about at least one of her own babies. "And that's hard," she said as she opened her eyes again. "But the good news is, she has you and now she has me for a bit. It will get better. Especially with me here to help with the baby, so you can focus a little more on her."

"I thought you were here for a visit, I-I don't want you to think we wanted you here just to take care of Anthony?" Keen said quickly.

"I did come to visit. And to meet Anthony and get to know him. How else can I do that but by taking care of him and spending time with him?" she asked with a laugh. She swayed with the baby. "Now, were you going for a run?"

He walk up and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be back Soon." He winked and started out of the doors.

"Have fun," she called after him, then turned back to the baby. "Your Papa is so silly. Yes he is." She kept swaying and bouncing as Anthony started to squirm and fuss a little. A quick check of his diaper showed no issues there, so... it was probably almost time to eat. Mams cast a glance to the bedroom door. She didn't want to wake Adriana if she needed sleep, but perhaps this would be a good chance to have a little chat. She would just check...

[Corridors]

Keen had a pace; it was a good run that took him through the lower decks and away from the majority of the crew. Leaving him alone with his thoughts; to more or less review what he had been doing both during the pregnacy and the time of Anthony's life. HE thought he was being the good father an husband but then the realization that Kitten had doubt him... that he loved her less rather than more ate away at him like his feet took away the meters along his run.

That was something he had not counted on losing ground in his showing her love? He thought during his run that he filtered all his actions and trying to make sense of how he could have failed his Kitten to this degree.

[Keen Family Quarters]

Mams peeked inside the bedroom. “Adds,” she said very softly, too softly to wake Adriana if she was asleep.

“Mmmm, five more minutes,” Adriana mumbled as she rolled over and brought the blankets closer around her. Morai had just left for a run a little bit ago, making sure to kiss her before he left, and she hated getting up…

Mams laughed gently. Adriana had been asking for “five more minutes” her whole life. “Up to you, sweetheart. Anthony is going to be need something to eat soon. I can make him a bottle if you want to go back to sleep. I just didn’t want to make that choice.” This was not Mams’ first grandbaby, and she had learned to back off and let the parents make the calls about a lot of things.

“No- no, I’m up. ‘M coming, Anthony. Mommie is coming,” Adriana muttered and rolled over again, towards the edge of the bed this time.

“Alright, no rush, we’re ready when you are,” Mams said and ducked back out into the main room, then towards the nursery to gather up everything Adriana would need.

Adriana shuffled into the nursery a minute later wearing a soft robe that was easy to feed in. A moment later, she was settled into the rocker with a nursing pillow, a burp cloth, and a baby.

Mams watched silently as Adriana and Anthony worked around each other, searching for his latch. She saw Adriana start to nibble her lower lip. “Take your time, Sweetie. And let him take his. There’s no rush,” Mams said when she saw them both getting frustrated.

Adriana started a little. She’d almost forgotten that Mams was there… “There’s no rush? But- he’s hungry,” she started to argue.

“And waiting an extra minute and a half is not going to hurt him. I promise. So take a deep breath, lean back, and just hold him steady enough for him to find it.” As Adriana followed her instructions, Mams continued to talk gently. “Get him in range, then, don’t help too much. If you’re both moving, you’ll get in each other’s way. That’s it, let his instinct take over….”

Anthony latched eventually, then began to feed hungrily and Adriana managed to relax a little, but carefully didn’t move a muscle.

Mams nodded and smiled, then moved back to the living room and settled down on the couch, thinking about what to say and how to say it…

[Corridors]

Keen was not slowing his pace despite the time he had been running; like the turtle in that famous race he was slow but sure; same as in his relationship of late, he was slow on the uptake. How could he have given Kitten the impression that he loved her 'Only' as a mother; only because he loved her so deeply had the prophets blessed them.

"By the Prophets..." He started to make a vow but tripped at that moment in his words and pace; losing the timing of his breathing and leg movements slightly, a stumble.

Yes, he had to hone up on the fact he was losing out on making his wife realize he loved her more each day; had loved her with that kind of increase since ... The Amnesia had done the same thing to her... he had forgotten who she was and now he had forgotten to show her and tell her what he had virtually everyday... he forced her to feel that same way again...

[Keen Family Quarters]

Adriana walked out with Anthony on her shoulder, rubbing his back gently. He seemed a little less gassy than he usually did after a feeding; she hoped he would not become quite as distressed as he usually did, and would burp easily for once. It would be nice to appear to be able to do something right for Mams.

Mams smiled up at them. "There. Full tummy and being taken for a little walk around the room. That makes for a happy baby, alright," she said. "Simple wants at that age. Boys get older, and they get a little more complicated. Well, except for the full tummy part, I don't think any man outgrows that one." She laughed a little and watched closely as Adriana paced with the baby. Yes. Her girl needed a bit of mother-daughter time. The benefit of a mother's experience, even and especially experiences that were not as positive as the public show most women put on about motherhood.

"Come here, Adds. Have a seat and settle him in." She half laughed. "Oh, sweetie. I have so much to tell you."

To Be Continued:

 

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