Cookies and Tutus

Posted on Tue Jun 26th, 2018 @ 4:15am by Commander Brielle Jayde & Lieutenant Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Brielle & Razot's Quarters
Timeline: Current

“Ossan, no, that is your sister’s. You grew out of your binky a long time ago.” Brielle looked like she hadn’t slept, which, she really hadn’t. Only when both kids were napping could she even get any cleaning done, let alone sleeping. Her hair was half up, but it was haphazardly done. “Momma! Why Aysel get new toys?!” He sat down in the middle of the floor and started to throw a tantrum.

All the while, Aysel was managing to stay asleep in the carrier against Brielle. “Teelor Ossan Erik! Don’t make me tell your father that you are misbehaving! He’s working and doesn’t want to come home to a screaming toddler.” This didn’t change anything, and Aysel started to fuss. “Shh, no no.”

Millie could hear the dueling child screams on the other side of the door, and didn't wait for Brie to answer before she let the door slide open.

"Алло? What is all of this now?" Millie slipped in, closing the distance between her and the toddler, and seated herself on the floor. "I can lay down here and cry too, da?"

Brie jumped at the door opening and Razot not being on the other side. However, once she saw who it was, she gave a small, tired smile. Ossan, on the other hand, didn’t seem to like someone else coming in.

He turned himself so his back was to Millie and continued to cry. Shaking her head after managing to barely get Aysel back to sleep, Brie sighed. “Terrible twos. What can you do, right?”

Millie gave an understanding smile. "Вот сейчас, маленький, what is the matter? Let us talk about our feelings. Are you feeling sad or frustrated today?"

Ossan turned his head and stuck out his tongue at Millie and turned back around, turning his screaming into pouts. Brie had sat down on the couch, surrounded by toys. “I’m sorry about that, Millie. I think he’s got sibling jealousy, right now focused around the binky. He hasnt’t used one since he was started teething. But now he seems to want his sister’s.”

The counselor nodded in understanding. She turned her attention back to Ossan. "So, that is what you are feeling? It is hard to understand why you cannot share things, especially now that you are such a big boy!" Millie grinned. "Then, maybe there should just be something special for us big kids, and not for the baby, da?" She patted the small container that she held in her lap.

Pulling Aysel out of the carrier, Brielle started to rock her as she eyed her son. "Ossan, be nice. She's here to visit." Ossan turned slowly, his eyes on the container. "Pesent fo me?"

"Even better." Millie lifted the lid, revealing a small stash of freshly-baked oatmeal cookies. "And these are for just you and me, not your sister. These are special just for big kids...and maybe we can share one with your mama, da?"

Ossan's eyes got wide as he looked to Brie for approval. Once he got the nod from her, his hand slowly moved to the container. But he quickly pulled it back. "Pease?"

Millie smiled, pulling a cookie out for the boy. "See? Sometimes the big brother gets something special that the baby doesn't get." She turned to Brie. "Would you like a cookie, mama?"

Taking the cookie, Ossan ran off to his toy corner to eat it. Brielle just shook her head and laughed. “That actually sounds really good, thank you.” She adjusted Aysel so she had one free arm. “He’s a very grumpy toddler and trying to adjust to all of this is tough.”

The counselor nodded, sliding closer and extending a cookie to Brie. "It will be a tough adjustment. It is hard enough learning to share. It is even harder when you have someone you have to share it with."

Brie took her own cookie and took a nibble. "He was all excited about a new baby. I just think he hasn't figured it out yet. We've only been back on the ship a few days. On the surface, he had my family and his cousins to play with. I think he's got adjusting to do, a lot of it."

"I can help with that, if you would like." Millie reached a hand out, and placed it on Brie's arm.

"I do appreciate that, Millie." Brie watched Ossan chomp through the cookie. "But I think I'm going to give him a bit more time. He's gotta get it figured out in his own time I think."

Millie nodded, chewing on her cookie. "But he also needs to see that you are still *his*." She smiled across the room at the boy. "He would benefit from having special time with just you and your husband, one on one. I...I will be starting up my family dance classes again soon. I was going to talk to Edra and several of the other crew members with young children to join us. You and Ossan are welcome as well."

"Dance!" Came Ossan's voice from the other side of the room and he started bouncing around in his version of dancing. Brielle giggled. "Computer, play Ossan's boogie playlist, 50% volume." There was the sound of some crazy, odd sounding beats that filled the room, but obviously Ossan didn't care and started bouncing around more, part of his cookie still in his hand. Brie looked over to Millie. "I think that's your answer on the classes. And once we get settled, I've already had so many babysitting offers, especially from Banks. Want to be added to the list? Maybe just for this little one so he can have his mom and dad time?"

Millie smiled. "I would love to spend some time with this little one." She slid a little closer, smiling at the baby. "It is never to soon for a tutu, маленький."

As Aysel started to stir, Brie shifted her so that she could look around the room. "I have no issues with tutus. Honestly? He might want to wear them too, considering he likes to twirl."

Millie smiled. "He is welcome to wear whatever he is comfortable wearing." The counselor paused, her eyes lingering on the baby girl. "Would she...? Could I hold her for a moment?"

“Of course you can,” Brie stated as she shifted so that Millie could easily take Aysel from her.

Millie slid so she could lean back against one of the chairs, and gently took the little girl into her hands. She looked into the bright eyes of the infant, a hint of a wistful smile playing at the corners of her own lips. "She is...so very precious."

Brie smiled. “Still not sure if her ears will grow like Razot’s, but pretty sure her forehead ridges aren’t going to change too much. Doesn’t matter though, wouldn’t want her to change for anything.”

"You have two very beautiful children, Lieutenant, and they have two very wonderful parents." Millie couldn't help but chuckle at Ossan and his interpretive dancing.

"Thank you. We try to keep the house in line. Obviously there are times I'm ready to rip my hair out, but isn't that the same with all parents?" Brielle sat back, relaxing a little while Millie had Aysel and Ossan was dancing.

Millie nodded. "It is more common than I think most parents are willing to admit. Raising the young of a species is no small feat, especially on a ship." The counselor looked down at the little girl, and smiled at the bright eyes that stared back at her. "Though there are times I wish I had more personal experience and knowledge to share on that subject."

Brielle smirked slightly. "You're still young, Millie. There is still time."

"Da, I know. But it is sometimes my youth that has me at a disadvantage." Millie tried to give a reassuring smile. "My specialization is in working with families, yet sometimes all the Starfleet training still leaves you at a disadvantage." She returned her eyes back to the baby girl. "For the first time in my life, I have a permanent place to designate as my home. The first time in my Starfleet career that I have a permanent station. And yet, I feel like I am still...catching up. Like there is much I have yet to do."

"Trust me on this. Relationships and all that type of stuff isn't something you ever are caught up on. You just go with whatever feels natural." Brie let Aysel hold onto her finger while Millie held her. "Don't force things, otherwise it'll just make it all the worse."

Millie's cheeks flushed slightly. "It's not the relationships I'm concerned about. Not the romantic ones, at least. This is the longest I will have been stationed in one location. And I will confess, part of your training as a transient counselor is to purposefully not get too attached to people or places, knowing that it won't be long before your posting is changed again. It is an entirely different feeling when you know you can...how do they say...put down roots?"

Brie couldn't help but laugh a little. "Now is your chance to change all of that. Know that you're here to stay, and take advantage of that. Get comfortable with everything around you."

Millie smirked. "It creates some...unusual situations. When I got word that the Mercutio had disappeared, and possibly been lost, it...hit harder than I expected." She looked back over her shoulder at Brie. "Perhaps that is the price of friendship, da?"

"That right there shows me that you belong here. You got close to us without trying to before we disappeared. Now you just get to get yourself more settled in."

That warranted a chuckle from Millie. "Do you know what the biggest complaint was to my superiors at Starfleet? It was that my office was always so stark and empty. But when you changed postings as often as I did, you were never in one place long enough to accumulate possessions. When I first came to the Mercutio, I came with a single duffel bag." She smiled over her shoulder at Brie. "This time, I made sure to bring a few more boxes with me."

“Well, if nothing else, you have a babysitting gig.” Brie smirked as she watch Aysel and Ossan, as Ossan came over and sat near them. “Bringing more clothes was probably a good thing. We go through too many here.”

"It's not just them." Millie chuckled, bouncing the little girl gently on her legs. "Remember that planet where we were lured down with the fancy dinner, and it turned out to be a big trap? Commander Vox nearly bled out all over my gown. It was a...very expensive gift from a patron of the ballet. Couldn't get the blood out of the fabric, totally ruined the dress."

Brielle frowned. "Unfortunately, that happens out here. Don't wear anything you can't replace. I've lost more than a few things over the years." She shivered slightly remembering what had happened, but shook it off. It'd been a while ago. Just then, Aysel started to squirm more. Ossan was found tickling the bottom of her feet.

Millie laughed. "Привет! Что делаешь?" She ruffled Ossan's hair. "It is not kind to torture your sister! Someday, she may seek her revenge!"

"Teelor Ossan Erik, I've told you not to do that. Millie is right, she will get older at some point and maybe do the same to you," Brie said as she tickled his sides. He quickly ran off to his toys in the corner, and a pile of cookie crumbs. She only shook her head. "Toddlers..."

Millie turned the baby, propping her against her chest so she had a grand view of the quarters. "But everything is going well, yes? You and your husband are adjusting well?"

Brie nodded. "He did a lot of double-takes when we were on the surface. I have a twin, and she was there. Adjusting to being a family of four though? Work in progress, obviously she's still tiny. Once she's mobile? Not sure what these two will get into."

"Everything, дорогой. They'll get into everything."