Sleepless Nights

Posted on Mon Sep 30th, 2019 @ 12:44pm by Hera & Ensign Fiona O'Dell & Ensign Briaar Gavarus
Edited on on Mon Sep 30th, 2019 @ 12:50pm

Mission: Family Detention
Location: USS Hera, Deck 9, Ensign Gavarus' quarters
Timeline: 2396 - Meanwhile... on the Hera.

The extended babysitting of Minerva Carrott, the baby minotaur who had been adopted after her mother died in childbirth by the R&D nurse and his pregnant wife, had spent a number of days that had extended now into more than a week. Which meant that the tyke had become part of the unlikely duo of Gavarus and O’Dell’s daily lives, and both had adapted to it surprisingly well.

Both women came from large families, which made them well-prepared for the duty. Gavarus had many younger siblings, so she had helped raise them. While O’Dell was the baby of her family, but she had been enlisted to care for her elderly father, which was babysitting of a similar yet different sort. But both women could change a diaper in their sleep, which both had done of late. Trading out for feeding times was established, and given that neither was a selfish woman, the duties had been shared and thus the burden eased.

Now they all lay together in the large bed in Gavarus quarters. Minnie, as she was often called, was sleeping on her back, not snoring but still making slight wheezing noises when she slept which they had been assured was to be natural. Curled protectively about her, although only a little more than three times her size, was O’Dell, the mop of crimson curls which made her so readily identifiable if her short stature and slender build did not. Then wrapped around them both was the form of Gavarus, making the largest spoon, with an arm draped protectively across O’Dell, and her large three-fingered hand resting across Minnie's sleeping form.

This had become de rigeur, and none of them seemed to be complaining about it.

Mrs. Carrott’s labor with her own baby had extreme complications, and the odd couple of the midget Mariposian and the towering Tellarite had taken to caring for the babe left somewhat at odds in the situation. Now, after the time spent together, O’Dell already knew it was going to break gavarus’ heart when they had to return the little bundle of hooves and drool to her rightful parents. Both of them doted on the infant, both of them enjoyed caring for her, and it had awakened in both of them feelings which neither had anticipated, yet were not unwelcomed. While they were far from a conventional couple, and they certainly seemed like the last people anyone would choose to be parents, it had been fulfilling for both of them to have the infant in their lives.

They still took her to the pub, carried her with them when singing karaoke and even brought her to work in the R&D department with them. So while children were often a disruption on the lives of couples, in this case, baby Minerva had flowed seamlessly into their lives as just another addition to their troublemaking, or ‘shenanigans’, as O’Dell liked to say.

Lying in bed, feeling the heavy breathing of her partner at her back and the gentle breathing of their infant charge, O’Dell knew it was going to break her own heart to give the infant up as well. Both of them were emotional and passionate, and neither of them tended to let people in emotionally, after years of experiences had taught them that most did not want to know others below what was seen on the surface. But the barnyard baby had touched their hearts, and for the first time in her life, O’Dell felt maternal leanings. The desire to see the child grow, learn, achieve and accomplish. To protect her and keep her safe. To be a part of their odd coupling, as a family.

Just considering letting Minnie go brought tears to the emerald eyes of the daredevil test pilot, and she continued doing her best not to consider the possibility.

Because as bad as it would be for her, it would be that much worse for Gavarus, who adored the child and had cheerfully spoiled her as a doting aunt would, lavishing her with gifts and toys designed to stimulate her mind and keep her body active. O’Dell could see it as clear as day, and she worried how she would keep her bosom buddy in good cheer when there was a baby minotaur-sized hole in their lives.

Given her physicality, O’Dell was reasonably certain that she could not bear children. She’d never properly entered puberty, after all. So while the parts might be in place, more than likely most of them had never been given the activation signal to go into overdrive and make her body fertile. Gavarus was fully adult and grown, but Fiona somehow doubted briar wanted to experience carrying a child, nor labor, nor not drinking while she did it.

Aside from the complexities of a humanoid and a Tellarite attempting to crossbreed- a frizzy, redheaded pig girl with a dense Gaelic accent and pale skin somehow just seemed not quite right in O’Dell’s mind, and she couldn’t see it happening. So here she lay, holding the child that was already too dear to them both, encircled and protected by her partner in crime, making her feel safe.

The concept of losing the babe kept her awake, though, and she tried not to dwell on that thought as she could not escape it.


****************************

I do NOT want frickin' KIDS! Briaar thought to herself as she lay in bed, her thick arm draped act the both of them while Minnie slept. The temperamental Tellarite's mind was going far too fast to sleep and she could tell Fiona was still awake too.

Not just because the miniature Maraposian practically purred like a cat when she slept, but because she breathed differently. When Fiona slept, Briaar could feel the difference. No, Fiona was awake too. But little Minnie was out like a light and Briaar wasn't going to do anything to disturb her.

What the frickin' hells is wrong with me? I don't want kids. I've never wanted kids. Sixteen brothers and sisters was WAY enough for me. To say nothing of almost getting COOKED in the engine room a few days ago. It's insane! So why can't I shut my stupid damn brain up? Briaar protested against her own head as she tried to stop thinking about the impossible baby Minotaur between her and Fiona in bed. About the tiny hooves that she constantly wanted to play with or the tiny, three-fingered hand so much like her own that she looked and saw still clutching a bit of Fiona's thick curls. About her giggling smile that cracked through her worst bad moods like a photon torpedo through an unshielded hull.

The portly Porcine nuzzled up tighter, resting her cheek against little Minerva's fuzzy face and smiled. Why did she feel so good around her? She had already been dealing with her complicated feelings for Fiona and now, it was just like a foregone conclusion in her head that the three of them were meant to be together and it almost made her angry to think about not Minnie.

"Shit." She muttered as quietly as she could, letting out a sigh as she did.

Without a word, Fiona rose from the bed, padded across the room then replicated two bottles of beer for them. Padding back across the bedroom, the thin-limbed carrot-top deftly avoided the piles of engine parts, bottles and baby toys littering the floor. Climbing back in bed, she handed one of the beers to her porcine partner as she acknowledged that neither of them was asleep. Laying sideways across the bed, O’Dell propped her upper body up against the greater mass of Gavarus' barrel gut, which enabled them to be close without disturbing their dozing charge.

“Yuir thinking aboot Minnie, aren’t ye?” It was phrased as a question, but it was clear from her bleary-eyed acceptance that it was merely a statement of fact. Spoken quietly enough not to wake their wee precious bundle, yet loudly enough for the sensitive ears of the space pig to hear.

Letting out the slightest of sighs, Briaar took a sip of her beer and looked at the tiny child in the bed with them. "I can't NOT, Fee. I mean... Doc Power's gonna clear Amy and the new baby medically eventually. And then what? It frickin' sucks. I already can't sleep unless you're here... I don't... I don't know what I'm gonna do."

“We, Briaar. We’re a ‘we’ now, remember?” Fiona gently chided her gruff galpal, then took a swig of her beer. “I know, I nivvir wanted kids- there, I said it. I’m damn near a child meself, and the last thing I’d want to do is pass on my own wretched inbred genes to some poor waif. Plus there’s the fact that tis 02:13, and we’re drinkin’ beer because we’re both awake. There’s nunna that what lends itself to us being in charge of anybody’s life. Hell, we’re lousy at managing our own, forget aboot a bebe.”

“Yet…” Reaching over, O’Dell softly stroked the tummy fur of the miniature minotaur, who giggled in her sleep, then farted.

"Oh, gods DAMN, Minnie moo..." Briaar whispered as she scrunched her extremely sensitive, porcine snout. "Okay, note for the future. No salsa for her yet... that was a tactical error."

Then she looked down at O'Dell and smiled, "But yeah. I don't know what we're gonna do, Fee. I mean, I lost my Tribble in my closet and thought it had gotten out of the room an' died! But I... I... @#$%, I don't want to let her go, Fee."

“Ah know, Briaar, I knoooow,” the midget Mariposian sighed. “Auntie privileges are all good and fine, but… I’ve grown accustomed to her face, ye know? The way she scrunches up her big pink nose when she’s aboot to drop a diaperload. The way she gurgles after dinner, or that squeaky noise she makes when ye tickle her tummy. Or that ‘rawr' noise she makes when ye put her up on yuir shoulders and she thinks she’s Jablonski…”

The pixie pilot’s voice cracked a bit at that, and she sniffled. “I nivvir wanted to be a parent, briar, but look at her. She’s so damn cute and precious and innocent… I dinno know what we’re g’win ta do if we lose her. I’m tryin’ nae ta think aboot it, but pog me thoin….” Tears rolled down the pale cheeks of the little lass, who was trying to keep a lid on it and failing miserably. As evidenced by the fact that her lilting brogue was getting thicker by the word, and she was straying into Gaelic now.

Listening, Briaar didn't quite know what to do. As much as it hurt her to think about letting Minnie go, it hurt her more to hear that same pain in Fiona's voice, so, she put the beer on the nightstand behind her and scooched up slightly in bed so that one arm was up over little Minnie, and the other could hold on to Fiona's shoulder.

But between the no longer quite whispers, Briaar's shuffling and Fiona's fresh tears, the miniature minotaur stirred and rolled on her side to tuck into Briaar's chest as she cooed and her bleary eyes cracked open. And with a gurgling, rolling sound that wasn't quite a 'moo' and wasn't quite a burp, she began scooching in place to turn downward in the bed towards Fiona.

Once turned around, she proceeded to inadvertently stick a tiny hoof in Briaar's snout, while pulling herself up and over Fiona's face with wide, slightly confused looking eyes. The tiny tot then proceeded to rub her fuzzy little hands on Fiona's damp cheeks.

“Ah love ye too, yeh wee barnyard bairn,” Fiona sniffled out, stroking the fine silken locks atop the bovine baby’s head. “Shhhh, s’alreet, s’alreet. S’joost thet yuir auntie Fiona is a sentimental sot and yuir auntie Briaar is nae mooch better, and twixt the both of us we’ve only been watchin’ ye for a fortnight, I canna imagine not seein yuir wee moo cow face aboot. No, I canna.”

Heaving the youngster more onto her lap so she would quit kicking Briaar in the snout, Fiona held the little one tenderly. “Bloody hell and damnation, we’re no parents, Gavarus. We’re drunken louts who pick fights and are always one step ahead of a court-martial. For fooksake, we used a Banshee to move a pregnant woman. We’re irresponsible, juvenile, inebriated…”

"I don't give a shit. All those shit-ass excuses didn't matter when we were deciding to... be... ya' know... together. And it's working. And... dammit." Briaar was starting to sniff loudly as her snout was rapidly filling up and her eyes were watering and a deep frown cut into her thick cheeks. 

Reaching back over, Briaar grabbed her beer and took a long swig. "We would, wouldn't we? We'd... we'd mess her up, wouldn't we?"

At that, Fiona frowned. While she started to answer, she stopped herself, frowned some more, then turned to look at the sleepy infant cowgirl. Looking back up, her eyes sought out Gavarus'. Shaking her head slightly, a sad smile settled onto Fiona's face. "Nae, Briaar. Lookit her. She's had a bath today, a dozen diaper changes I'd wager, seven feedings and another one comin' if she doesn't doze off soo... which you wanna do doncha yessss ye do, at's right, sleeepy sleepy..."

Looking back up at the Starfleet swine, the moppet nodded, her brows knitting. "But we're doin it. She's clean, she fed, she's cared for. We're nae messin it oop, and when one of us stumbles the other's there to catch and run. We come from big families, we know how to do this. We're takin' good care of her." Turning her gaze back to the toddler passing out in her lap, Fiona cracked a grin.

"As fuir messin her oop, there are no perfect parents. Everybody inflicts their damage on their kids in one way or t'other. But so long as there's love, who cares? Apologize for it later, buy 'em a pint and ye kin all git over it. Everybody does the best they can. Some may be great, some may joost suck ass. But everybody's parents give 'em issues. This one would be a damned barfly since she was in diapers, so that'd likely lead to issues. But better that than beatin' her or bein' passive-aggressive, aye?"

"Cuz ye and me, we're nae that kinda people. We'd ne'er do that to each other, and we dinna do it to others neither. We joost demand service of the wait staff, But that's their jobs, aye? But we'd nae mess oop a kid... see, lookit 'er." Sprawled across the lap of O'Dell, a stray lock of her curls wrapped in one tiny fist, the bovine babe finally succumbed to sleep, and she slipped from consciousness with a contented sigh.

Looking down, Briar couldn't help but smile at how ridiculously adorable both Minnie and Fiona were laying there. Nothing about the bizarre grouping there made sense on paper, but she was happier than she had ever remembered being and that had to mean something. "I guess. I mean... she's just so... she's happy, I think. And... I'm happy. And... I mean... if all we ever get to be with her are her cool aunts, I can be happy with that as long as she's happy. Then we can be, like, the coolest aunts, right? Even if I'm greedy and want more, ya' know."

“That’s what I’m sayin, Briaar. Maybe... I mean not right now, although…” Fiona was a bit tangled in her own words, and she took a big swallow of beer before continuing. “I’d like… I want to ask the Carrotts if we could adopt Minerva"

Letting the shock from that settle in for a few seconds, the daredevil damsel pressed on in a rush of words. "I know we’re the worst candidates and all, but… she’s got a piece of me heart, and I dinna know if I can bear to lose her, aye? And ye canna deny it, you too. I see the way ye look at her. S’same way ye look at me when I’m asleep.” Owning the admission, Fiona gently stroked the furry baby’s tummy, even as she looked up at Gavarus hopefully.

Flumping her head back in the bed, Briaar groaned in an exaggerated fashion. "Fee... you can't be... Oh my gods. Are you seriously thinking that we could? That's just..." Then, letting out a long, long sigh, she looked down to reveal that her eyes were tearing up. "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard and... yeah... yeah... I want to, too."

Then her face scrunched as she took a swig of beer. "Wait, what? How the hell do you know how I look when I'm looking at you when you're asleep?"

“Dinna be daft, there’s sensor logs. And I think it’s absolutely one of the most precious things in the universe, the expression on yuir face when ye’re watchin me sleep. It’s sweet, Briaar.,” Fiona reached out and ran her small, delicate, pale fingers over the bristles on her cheeks and chin Gavarus shaved every morning. Indisposed like this, she did not shy away nor shrink from her partner’s imperfections and flaws, but embraced them. ”It shows me how much ye care, and that I make ye happy. And ye look at wee baby Minnie Moo the same way. Ye love the wee bundle of manure and mischief, and so do I. So… why not us?”

"You watch me watch you on the sensor logs? Fee, that's both sweet as @#$% and kinda creepy." Briaar snorted out a light chuckle, blushing slightly at the tiny redhead's touch. Then her face got that expression it did whenever she hit a wall at work or couldn't solve a problem.

It was the face Briaar had worn during half of the subspace call trying to talk to her judgmental mother. The look of someone who was so terrified of failing that she was afraid to try. And it was an expression Fiona recognized on her porcine partner all too well. Looking down, Briaar scrunched her face and ran her free hand through Minnie's hair and sighed. "The Carrots... they'll never... He WORKS with us... he knows I'm a colossal screw-up."

“Aye, that ye are. But yuir also kind, generous, good-hearted, and capable. Ye’re a hell of an engineer, a brave friend and while we’re both slovenly sailors, we dinna make a bad parenting team, aye?” At that, Minnie farted, which was quickly realized by both women to not be a fart at all. Looking up at Gavarus blearily, O’Dell sighed. "You get the diaper bag, I’ll get her started…”

Kicking her considerable girth up, Briaar rolled off the bed with a grunt and trotted over to the diaper bag sitting on the counter next to the sink and brought it over to the bed while Fiona was already quickly working. "So, I got some notes from the Chief and turns out Minnie fuzz ain't much different from the down floof her kids are probably gonna have… unless they're more Romulan and all just come out with pointy-ass bangs… so I replicated these… kind of baby chamois ass wipes. It kinda gets into the hairs to pull off the shit without pulling her hairs. Check it."

As she spoke, Briaar was quickly disassembling the bag and getting everything out, including the Miradonian ass-chamois.

“See? Already planning ahead, getting’ ready because ye know the Chief’s gonna have us looking after her chicks,” O’Dell bumped against the hip of the big pig woman appreciatively. “Fie on what the universe thinks, Briaar. I think ye’ll make a great mum, and that’s a fact.”

“Assuming we survive this… lairdamercy, Minnie, me eyeballs are meltin!”

"Oh, sweet evil what died in you, Minnie?" Briaar said, trying to cover her snout with one hand while holding up her little hooves with the other so Fiona could pull away the biohazardous diaper. "I mean... yeah, we can do this stuff... Gods, my mom is gonna have an aneurysm if we go through with this, Fee."

While they worked, Minnie was inexplicably bouncing between actively snoring and giggling, somehow not being quite asleep as her intended moms changed her.

"All the better reason to do it, Briaar me mate..."