Starfleet Mom

Posted on Saturday 15 May 2021 @ 14:40 by Chief Petty Officer Marika Beck

Mission: A Cry from the Darkness
Location: Beck Family Quarters
Timeline: Current
1016 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Marika walked into their quarters, Wyatt's hand in hers. She turned to him.

"Okay. Go get your homework done and I'll get dinner ready. " she said. Wyatt nodded and headed for his room as she headed for the small alcove that served as her and Alex' bedroom. She changed into something more comfortable and sighed. Alex had been on assignment for two days. So far she'd kept Wyatt busy but she knew the child was worried. She'd looked over some child psychology books when she had become his stepmother and had recently spoken to the ship's counselor. And Wyatt was a naturally curious boy. Sooner or later he'd start asking questions.

She wasn't disappointed.

"Where's Dad? " she heard him ask as she walked out of the bedroom.

"Your dad's on assignment on the surface. " she said.

"How long will he be gone? " asked Wyatt.

"I don't know. The mission is very important. It could be a while. " she told him. Wyatt, PADD in hand, sat on the couch and began working on his homework assignment. She sat next to him.

"Are you okay? " she asked.

"I don't think I want to be a Marine when I grow up. " he said.

"Why? " asked Marika.

"I don't want to be away from my family. " said Wyatt.

"Neither does he, but it's part of his job, Madja. " she said, using an old Orion term of endearment which roughly translated into "My Little One".

He continued to work on his assignment.

"So what do you think you want to do? " she asked. She knew that Wyatt would likely change his mind about his future a thousand times before he was an adult.

"I like music. And I like talking to people. Like you do. " he said. She smiled.

"There's more to what I do than talking to people. I'm more of a translator. I speak for the Federation to people who don't know the language yet. " she said.

"Dad told me you're really good at it. " he replied, looking at her for the first time.

"I like to think so. But you shouldn't worry about your dad either. He's really good at what he does, too. " she said.

"I know. I think I'd like to be more like you when I'm old enough. " he said. Marika smiled, pleased. It hadn't taken her long at all to bond with the boy. She and Alex hadn't been together long before they knew how they felt. Alex, however, had held off on her meeting Wyatt until he was sure she would stick around, which she couldn't blame him for one bit. Wyatt had to come first. But when she'd met the boy, she'd fallen in love with him fast, as she had his father. Her motherly instincts had taken over and the rest was history. But even now, after two years of marriage, she and Wyatt were still getting to know each other.

"Can I ask you something? " Wyatt asked. She smiled at him.

"You can ask me anything. " she said.

"Why haven't you and dad had a baby yet? "

She sighed. "That's complicated, Madja. You see, while I love your father and you very much, he and I can't have children. " she said.

"Why not? " he asked.

"He's human and I'm an Orion. We aren't genetically compatible, which means we can't have a baby together. " said Marika.

"If you could, would you want to? " asked Wyatt. She nodded.

"Yes, your father and I would like to have a child. But that doesn't matter to us as much as you do. We both love you very much. " said Marika.

"I know. " he said. He leaned against her and she put an arm around him, hugging him. Wyatt was worried. He wasn't used to his father's long absences.

"Can I call you Mom? " he asked suddenly. She pulled away and looked down at him.

"Do you want to? " she asked. He nodded.

"You don't have to, Madja. You have a mother and I don't want you to ever think I'm trying to replace her. " said Marika.

"I know. Dad told me that when he asked if it was okay if you two got married. " said Wyatt. Her eyes widened. Alex had never told her about that.

"He did that? " she asked. Wyatt nodded.

"And you said yes. " she said. Again, the boy nodded.

"You're nice to him. And me. You made him smile more. Before he met you he didn't smile much. I thought it was something I did. " said Wyatt. She shook her head.

"No. You never did anything wrong. He was just sad when your mother passed away. " said Marika, fighting back the tears that threatened to leak out of her eyes. She'd never met Elara, but she'd gotten the story out of Alex a bit at a time.

"I didn't know her, but I know things about her that your father told me. And one thing I know for sure is that she loved you both more than anything in the universe. You and your father were her entire life. " said Marika. Then she wiped her eyes.

"I would love to be your Mom, Madja. But she is still your mother and always will be. I don't ever want you to forget her. " said Marika. Wyatt smiled.

"Okay. We can tell Dad when he gets back. " he said. Marika nodded. Since she'd married Alex she had taken great pains to make sure that Wyatt would always remember his mother. Every year they still celebrated Elara's birthday. On that day Marika prepared braised hasperat, her favorite food. She always played the video of the day Wyatt was born and came home from the hospital.

She hugged the boy.

"Let's go to the Round Table and get something to eat. " she finally said. Wyatt's eyes widened and he nodded, excited. He got off the couch and headed for his room to get his shoes on.

"Well this was a good day. " she said to herself as she stood to wait for him to return.

Chief Petty Officer Marika Beck
Diplomatic Corpsman
USS Merlin