Unsolicited Advice

Posted on Saturday, 16 October 2021 - 4:44pm by Crewman Leopold Eberhardt & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Mirror of Madness

Adrianna had heard from her own mother that when she was pregnant, with any of the Baciami children, she received a lot of unsolicited advice. Everyone had an opinion on how, where an when she should do every aspect from prenatal to the first year. For now, Adrianna had been relatively in the clear since they weren't on a family orientated ship and neither pseudo mother, Alex, not actual mother T'Lanna, had offered any form of advice, other than 'let me know if you need anything'. It may have also been a touch of fear that the Baciami would murder anyone telling her what to do in respect of her pregnancy and her body.

An incoming call from Leopold's mother, though - that may change things. She looked up from the sofa and, sat up. "Hi, Mrs Eberhardt," she offered a smile, "what's the weather in New Berlin?"

The woman smiled warmly. "To one Mrs. Eberhardt to another?" replied Leopold's mother who had begun to really take a liking to Adrianna. Through everything that the family had been through, losing a daughter yet gaining another was a tough pill to swallow, but the matriarch of the Eberhardt family was welcoming to the Baciami infusion. "The weather has been fine, a bit too controlled for my liking. On Ekos, we did not have the luxury of Federation technology, not to this extent."

She shook her head. "Would it kill anyone to have allowed a cloud or two?" the woman said shaking her head. "Artificial 'rain' to help the plants grow, protection against the sun. It is very fake in New Berlin, but the people here are pleasant, and I do not need to worry about a genocidal conflict."

"Win some and lose some," Adrianna chuckled, "on a plus side, there are planets and places to go for a change of scenery. England, for example, always has a single cloud in the sky to remind them of their history of poor weather."

Adrianna got comfy in her seat with a soft, contented sigh, "I'm afraid Leopold is at work. He's due home any minute though."

"It has been nice to see the region that my people's adopted history has come from," the woman replied. "I am starting to feel more German than Ekosian, and I would not say that is a bad thing. Life in the Federation is something that I will have to get used to. Do not worry about Leopold. I actually was looking to check in with you. Leopold keeps in touch enough."

"There's a restaurant just down the road from your place," Adrianna commented, "they do traditional german cuisine. Great place. Think it's call Dukes or something similar. From experience, moving from the dark to the positive side of the federation, it's a difficult change, but one that's worth it." Adrianna then smiled, "as for me, I'm fine. Starting to feel like I'm waddling a bit, but other than that, yes, all good."

"I will take Leopold's father there and see about their cuisine," she replied. "He is currently away visiting Ferenginar, he's apparently found himself some delightful Ferengi to associate with. I can only imagine what trouble he is getting himself into. You will get used to the waddling, dear."

"Ferengi? Good gawd," Adrianna groaned, "let me know if he needs bailing out at some point. The Ferengi can be-- well, they're great at business-- a little too good. Let's put it like that."

The woman nodded. "I'm learning that. One swindled me into a deal, I'm pretty sure I sold them my third born. Fortunately, I have no plans on having a third born."

Adrianna somehow felt a bit more relaxed. The woman had always felt on edge with the Eberhardt's given their disagreements in raising children. But right now, Leopold's mother was the closest she'd have to a mother. "I've been thinking a lot about my mother lately. I can't contact her though. Not anymore. Any words of wisdom for a first time mother?"

"Hold them close and dearly, enjoy and cherish the time you have with them. Before I had Leopold, I thought it would be forever until I became a mother. Then when I became one, I thought I would have eternity to raise him and be with him, but before I knew it the baby I had been holding was taller than me and next I really took time to realize it, he was back home with a wife to be trying to save his father and I...they grow up faster than you want to imagine."

Adrianna wasn't sure on that piece of advice. She understood the where Mrs Eberhardt was coming from, but equally, it held no place in the couple's lives. For one, they were both honest working people now. No lies were kept between them. Adrianna had plans to raise her own in a similar, though much more civilised, way to how she was brought up, where her parents were honest to the family and transparent in what they did. They weren't in a place that required anything to be hidden, or in a position that would be deemed dangerous. Nor would their child be in a situation where they were considered collateral.

"Perhaps the advice is to cherish all moments and to always be transparent with your children, in the hopes they respect you for it in the future," Adrianna commented lightly, though she felt like she could have had a more salted wound styled comeback, if it wasn't for the fact she knew the woman was grieving and trying had to rebuild a life.

"Learn from the mistakes of your own mother, and me," she added. "I did not support Leopold enough in his pursuits, neither of my children. I placed too much focus on what I wanted for them and expected of them than allowing them to choose their own path, and support them."

Adrianna nodded before defending a little, "my mother chose to stay behind incase one of my other brothers, or neices and nephews wanted an out." She paused, "if you could take everything back-- start over-- knowing what you know now, but also seeing the good that came of it, would you do it again?"

"I would never do anything to change being married and having the children that I had, Leopold and his sister, but I would do some things differently...cautiously and carefully. I was not the best mother, still am not, but losing one child has made me see where I went wrong and that I need to be better at holding Leopold closely."

Adrianna completely understood. "My mother aways said that she had 8 of us for a reason and not just because she was determined to have a girl." She smiled a little, remembering that conversation: her mither admitting that Giovanni was a pain and still is a pain, and the younger the sibling the nicer they were. "If it helps, I don't think there's much else you can do to help repair things and make up for lost time. I mean, we're on a ship, lightyears from Earth. It would only be if we were reassigned to a station or an exploratory ship that allow families that you could be physically here more..." She trailed off a little, suddenly lost in thought. It was a genuine possibility with the new captain about to take post. She cleared her throat and continued with a comforting smile, "right now a call or few a week seems to be helping. Leopold seems much brighter."

"Maybe you two could get transferred to larger starship in the near future...one that was more family friendly. I like New Berlin, but I wouldn't mind being a deck or few away from my frandchild."

Again, it was a grey area. "We'll have to see what the new captain is like," she replied simply, hoping Leopold could take over the call soon, "with any luck, they'll let us stay here. We've become quite close to the crew. It's safe to say that is a weird family-esque crew. Small, but worth more than it's weight. It would be a shame to have to leave, though I would understand. The joys of being enlisted instead of an actual officer. Makes life a little more unpredictable, job security wise. "

"Your Captain spoke very highly of you when I met him, and it seemed like you were in charge of your own department, only a couple of souls underneath you," she replied. "I suspect you would not need to worry much about being transferred to another ship or station, dear. Leopold, on the other hand, he was at risk of that. Now? I think you add a bit of job security to the equation."

"You'd be surprised," Adrianna replied honestly, "even though I'm head of my department, we are both only enlisted. Regardless, we will be fine. I have no intention of leaving here in favour of a station or family friendly place." Adrianna hoped Leopold would be home soon, she felt this conversation may end up being a guilt trip to leaving the Standing Bear, to be near 'family'.

"You are the backbone of any starship. Enlisted does not mean invaluable," the woman said kindly and reassuringly. "If you need anything dear...I am only a message away. I can find my way to the Standing Bear anytime."

Adrianna smiled and nodded, "I appreciate the sentiment. We'll be fine."

"Mother's know best dear," replied Adrianna's in-law. The woman ended the transmission.

As soon as the comms ended, Adrianna replied to the empty room, "Si, but you're not my mother."