Like Mother, Like Daughter - The Checkup

Posted on Wed Oct 7th, 2015 @ 11:45pm by Meru Walker
Edited on on Sat Feb 18th, 2017 @ 10:14pm

1,550 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Behind Closed Doors
Location: Drydock
Timeline: two weeks after arrival

ON:

[Walker Quarters]
[0745 ship time]

Kala grinned at her sister. “Mom says another month at most and these two will be born.”

“That’s good. You look like you're about ready to pop Kala.” Mira responded. “You look cute though, with the tummy and everything.” She paused. “Don’t tell Mom but I’m kinda jealous Kala. I know it’s hard work and all but I sorta wanted to have one too. James would’ve been a good daddy.”

“Till he found out you were knocked up. Robert was all ‘I’ll stick by you if something happens Kala.’ while he was busy trying to get into my pants. As soon as he found out I was carrying his kid, his tune changed. Now all of a sudden he wanted me to see the doctor, get an abortion, that whole deal.”

“Would you have?” Mira asked.

“Of course not. Mom & Dad were teens when we were conceived and they kept us around even though we were a mistake. Besides, as soon as I heard the twins’ heartbeats, I couldn’t do it even if I’d wanted to.” Kala looked at her sister. “Of course Robert’s parents put pressure on Mom & Dad to force me into an abortion. I remember hearing Dad tell Robert’s father that I was keeping the child and if they didn’t like that they could fuck off. Robert’s dad then said that they’d have nothing to do with me or the child.”

“Geez. You’d think they’d be a little less asshat about the whole thing.” Mira looked at the clothes laid out on Kala’s bed. “What you gonna wear to the checkup Kala?” Looking over the items on the bed, she picked up a cute little aquamarine blue lace shirt with knitted white band between the bust and tummy area.

“What do you think of?” She glanced over at Kala who sat on the bed, holding her tummy, eyes closed, looking like she was in pain. Dropping the shirt she went over to Kala. “You okay Sis?” Kala patted her sister’s arm in response. “Yeah. Just give me a minute.”

“You sure? I can get Mom?” Mira responded. Kala shook her head no in response. “It’s just practice contractions. I’ve been having them the past few weeks. They’re a bit worse today that’s all.” She looked at her sister’s worried expression. “I’ll be okay. Trust me.”

Eventually the contraction subsided and Kala’s expression returned to normal. That was the third one in the past hour, and they were getting painful, but Kala didn’t want to alarm her sister or mother as these had been happening on and off the past week, just today was the first time she’d had several close together.

The girls heard their mother Meru call out from the living room, “Kala. We’re going to be late.” Mira looked at the clothes. “What’s it going to be Kala?” Kala hopped off the bed. She was already wearing the jeans she wanted to wear, she just hadn’t picked out the shirt yet. Picking up the lacy aquamarine shirt her sister had been holding moments before, Kala slipped it on.

“What do you think?” She asked Mira. “I think you look cute Kala.” Mira replied, “Like I said, I’m jealous.”

“Don’t be.” Kala replied. “You don’t have to give birth, and you won’t have to breastfeed them in the middle of the night.”

Mira nodded. “Mom says I have to help so she’ll probably make me get up with you and bottle feed them.” Mira gave Kala’s hand a quick squeeze. “Have fun with Mom.”

[Living Area]

"Kala. We're going to be late." Meru called out to her daughter. Today was the first visit to see their new doctor and probably one of the last before both her and Kala delivered. Smiling as her daughter Kala entered the room, Meru gave her a hug. "Ready?"

"I guess." Kala replied. She'd been trying to find something that fit over her swollen tummy and finally settled on her jeans and the lacy aquamarine shirt. Her mother Meru, was dressed similarly, jeans and plain white shirt with a black sweater.

Meru placed her hand on Kala's tummy. "Babies are doing okay?" Kala nodded, "I think so. Both were moving around a few minutes ago." She looked up at Meru, "Mom. How much longer? I've had enough of this whole pregnancy thing. I just want them born."

"They will come when they come sweetie. And don't worry, It's normal to want them out. Just let me know when you start feeling contractions, some are normal now but if they start to hurt, I want to know. Okay?"

"I will Mom, don't worry." Kala responded. "Can we go?"

[Sickbay]
[0800 ship time]

Sickbay on the ship was a short few minute walk from their quarters. The two walked together quietly, each thinking about their own babies, how they were doing. Kala found her thoughts drifting towards her mother and her own birth.

“Was it like this for you and Dad?” she asked Meru.

Meru smiled down at her daughter. “We were 16 when it happened but yeah, a lot like this. I was scared, nervous. Unsure of myself as a parent. I kept thinking, I’m a kid having a kid. Your father was walking beside me when we made the trip to sickbay. We made quite the sight, two teenage kids walking hand in hand, my belly swollen with you two, your father nervous and worried.”

“Did giving birth scare you?”

“A bit yeah. I didn’t know what to expect, it was late at night. I was in pain from the contractions. I didn’t know how much it would hurt.”

“Did it hurt? Like really badly?”

Meru gave her daughter’s hand a squeeze, “It did Kala. But you know what, holding you and your sister in my arms, I forgot about it so quick. I was sore for a while afterwards but that’s also normal.”

Reaching sickbay, Meru entered with Kala. The two must have been quite a sight as they walked into sickbay, mother and daughter, both pregnant, both looking like they were almost due.

Enjoying what was so far shaping up to be the first quiet day in sickbay since the borg crisis, Keith was busy catching up on paperwork and other routine matters. Seeing a Bajoran lady walk in with her daughter in tow, Harris couldn't help but notice the women and teenage girl were both sporting well developed bellies. Not a usual sight to see a mother and daughter in the same boat but he'd been caring for the family since they came aboard. "Morning Meru. How can I help you both?" he said smiling.

"We're here for our prenatal checkups. Dr Harris. With the borg incursion we decided to wait a few days let medical get themselves back on your feet." Meru responded.

Keith nodded. "You picked a good day. Alright, feel free to take separate biobeds." he reached into into lab coat and grabbed a tricorder and started to scan Kala. "Either of you feeling super sick, lightheaded, trouble breathing, any of that stuff?"

Kala kept her mouth quiet as she lay back on the bio bed for her exam, not wanting to admit that she'd been having contractions. Doc would probably notice so if she played it quiet, maybe, just maybe her mother would figure she didn't know, this being her first time and all that.

Meru on the other hand, this was old hat for her. Laying back down she glanced at her daughter then at Harris. "Nothing out of the ordinary. A bit of sneezing but that's always been normal for me over every pregnancy."

Harris nodded. "Alright, and you Kala?" he said turning around and starting to scan her. "Hmmmm" he said to himself reviewing the scans as they come up.

"I've been okay I think." Kala closed her eyes, sitting up as another contraction started, this one as bad or worse than the one earlier in her bedroom. Holding her stomach, Kala waited for the pain to subside, completely oblivious she was in sickbay.

Meru glanced over at her daughter. Seeing her sit up suddenly, eyes closed, hands on her stomach, face showing obvious pain, Meru knew what that meant. “You okay Kala?” she asked her daughter as concern for her daughter grew. When Kala didn’t answer, Meru knew something was amiss.

Keith tucked his tricorder into his pocket. Giving a semi-stern look. "Someone's been having contractions and trying to hide it. " he gently wagged a finger at Kala. "Someone's about to be a mommy sooner than she thinks."

As the last of the pain began to subside, Kala looked at her mother and the doctor, her face flushing a little. "I didn't know Mum, honest. I thought they were practice contractions." She looked at Harris. "Am I going to give birth soon?" she asked, somewhat hopeful she would. These contractions hurt.

Keith nodded "You're very close. Within 24 hours. I recommend staying close to sickbay. Check in with a doctor every few hours while you're awake."

TBC...

RSS Feed