Welcome Home...

Posted on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 12:41pm by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Survivor's Camp, Tonelly/Whavi family tent
Timeline: Tbd
1943 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

A few days after she delivered their daughter, David brought Baeryn and little Samanthanna to their temporary home in the Marine section of Tent City.

As David had been sharing a tent with three other officers, and Baeryn had come down to the planet, from sickbay, directly to the medical tent, they had not been given a family tent. Following the birth of their daughter, several of the enlisted Marines decided to bunk up closer and clear one of the tents for the new family.

To say that David was moved by this gesture, was putting it mildly. It brought back the memory of his time in the US Army, where the whole unit would come together, as a single, cohesive family, looking out for their own.

Lifting the outside flap, David helped Baeryn into the small mudroom. He quickly removed his winter clothes and boots, slipping on a pair of slippers as he turned to Baeryn. Kneeling down, he first helped her remove her boots, as she held their daughter. Then, once her slippers were on, he reached up and gently took possession of tiny Ana, giving Baeryn the opportunity to remove her outer wear.

She slipped her heavy winter jacket off and hung it nearby. She took a moment to look around the space, it wasn't their quarters on the Elysium but it was oddly cozy. Kind of like camping with her father when she was young.

Once she was ready, David carefully handed their daughter back, gently running his hand over her little hat-covered head. He sighed happily. "We made her!" He quietly exclaimed.

Baeryn couldn't help but laugh, "Yes my Love, she is a product of our excessive love making." Baeryn noticed a small makeshift basinet located next to the bed and smiled. Walking towards it she pressed her lips to her daughters forehead before gently laying her in the basinet. "I love you Ana." She whispered.

Continuing her exploration of their temporary home she spoke to David, "It was a big gesture of the others to empty this space for us. I almost feel badly about putting them out."

David stepped up behind Baeryn and gently wrapped his arms around her front. "Corps takes care of its own, Baer. You're Corps through being with me, our baby will always be protected by the Corps." He gently kissed her right temple.

She giggled as the stubble on David's chin tickled the skin of her temple. She turned in his arms, placing both hands on his chest. She looked up at him with a serious look on her face. When she spoke, her voice quieted a bit, "Thank you. For keeping us safe. I know you're going to tell me there's no need to thank you, but I don't want you to think that I take your actions for granted. I remember what it was like when you were in a coma and I can't even imagine what it did to you not knowing how it would affect Ana."

His eyes softened as he reached up to gently caress Baeryn's face. "I was worried for both of you, Baer. You and Ana are my world. I don't know what I'd do if I lost either of you, let alone both." He leaned in and kissed her deeply. They stayed there for several beats, when he finally broke the connection and placed his forehead against hers, breathing heavier than before. "I no longer make any sense without the both of you in my life."

"I don't believe you made sense before us either." Baeryn jested with a smirk. Across the room, Ana started to wiggle, frustrated that she was confined within the tight bundle of blanket around her. The infant disliked being put down for long.

David looked over at their daughter and smiled warmly. "Looks like someone wants to be held," he said softly as he gently kissed Baeryn's forehead. "Why don't you try to sleep some? I'll sit up with her. As she is half El Aurian, she might not sleep much." He chuckled softly as he finished speaking, while he moved over to the bassinet and carefully lifted out their most precious of treasures.

"Well hello, Little One!" David said softly as he smiled happily at Ana. "You should be tuckered out from your busy day today!" He leaned in and gently kissed her tiny forehead, before settling her into the crook of his left arm and gently rocking her while he continued to look down at her, as if mesmerized by her very being.

Baeryn moved to sit on the bed, sitting cross legged and admiring the sight before her. Some days it was still hard to believe this was real. "I know as new parents we should take advantage of any sleep were able to get but I like watching you two."

Ana's eye lids started to get heavy. She yawned widely, making small noises as she relaxed in the gentle motions her father was making.

"I'm still not used to sharing you." Baeryn said joked.

As he continued to slowly rock Ana in his arm, David gently tapped out the rhythm of his heart on his daughter's tiny back. A smile which was equal parts happiness and adoration slowly spread across his features when her heard her yawn. Without even thinking about it, he started to softly sing a lullaby he had heard over four hundred years previous.

"Down at the station,
Early in the morning,

The engineer was checking on,
All his trains.

He oiled all the wheels up good,
So they could roll down the track,

Then you'll hear the whistle go,

Toot, toot, toot!"

Once finished, David repeated the little song a few more times, when finally, Little Ana was fast asleep. Moving back over to the bassinet, David lowered her back inside, then xarefully moved the piece of furniture closer to the bed and laid down on the edge closest to their daughter, thus giving Baeryn more ov the bed and she could lay on his side, able to easily look in on Ana. He then placed one hand on the bassinet and started to gently rock it.

Opening his right side to Baeryn, David smiled. "You both have to share me, my love."

She scooted closer and nestled into David's side. "I know that. Just an adjustment. I guess it hadn’t dawned on me that our free time would be so consumed with that little bundle. I'm not complaining, she's more then I ever dreamed to have in this life." Baeryn took a deep breathe, having trouble finding the right words to express how she was feeling. Being so open with someone was still tricky for her. She was used to bottling her personal feelings and focusing on those around her.

Baeryn rolled so that her arm and chin were rested on David's chest. He was the father of her child. Her tether to this existence. "I'll be happy to be off this ice cube and aboard the Elysium."

After Baeryn adjusted her position, David lifted his right hand and gently moved a few stray curls out of her face and smiled at her. "I'm sure we will figure out how to both be loving parents for Ana and still find time for ourselves. Parents have been doing so since time began. And as for getting up to the Elysium," he looked over at Ana and sighed softly. "So long as the two of you are safe, we'll go anywhere. He looked back into Baeryn's eyes and gave her a loving smile. "Everything I do is for the both of you."

"I know. I couldn't ask for a better partner." Baeryn kissed David's hand as it brushed her cheek. No matter where they were, he was home for her. They both were. She felt fully complete for the first time in her entire existence. "How are you doing? Everything has been so focused on Ana and I that I haven't even bothered to ask about work or how you're feeling."

David smiled softly at Baeryn's words about him. Then a soft sigh escaped him when she gently kissed his hand. "Now that you both are healthy and safe? I'm doing better, Baer." His deep voice, even at the lower volume he was speaking, so not to disturb Ana, still vibrated in his broad chest under Baeryn’s head. "As for work, I've been up to the ship a couple times to help with repairs, then down here, helping the Colonel keep our people safe." His features darkened some as he finished speaking. "Though we haven't been successful in that arena. More crew have died while we have been down here, and young Ensign Darani was brutally attacked and killed, though the Dic was able to get her back. We still don't know who her attacker was."

"Killed?! Got her back?! How am I just now learning about his..." The thought wanted Baeryn to pulled her loved ones closer and never let them leave her side. "David..." The unknowns of this planet were infinite, but how exactly were people dying? Were they being picked off slowly... "The senior officers are to inspect the ship tomorrow. With some luck we could be returning to it. If I wasn't motivated before... I sure am now."

Baeryn pressed her lips to David's chest, his body temperature keeping her warmer then any fire ever could. She hugged him closer to her, knowing these peaceful moments would be few and far between soon enough.

"You were in a coma when it all happened, my love," David said apologetically. "Then, our precious little bundle here woke you up and then she came into the world. Then, you were recovering from that and having Sthilg check you over die to the coma, then we came here, to our temporary home. And you asked how things have been going." He looked at his mate with sadness in his eyes. "This was the first chance to say anything and you be in a position to absorb it. I'm sorry, my love."

He then nodded, as he replied to what she had said next. "Yeah, the crew has been working around the clock to get the ship repaired. She should be able to support us all again now. Just needs the Commodore's approval to transfer everyone back up. I am certainly ready to leave this icebox, provided everything is as safe as possible for our Ana." He paused then added, "I spoke with Captain Richardson, the Commodore's husband? He gave me the specs for the cribs that their twins are using, which doubles as an emergency survival pod, complete with micro tractor emitters to keep her from moving, despite what's happening outside the pod."

When Baeryn kissed his bare chest, David smiled lovingly, as he felt a renewed warmth spread throughout his body. He returned the tighter embrace that she gave with one of his own. "I love you Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly, until my soul no longer exists."

"I love you more." She scrunched her nose at him with a smirk before turning her attention to their sleeping daughter. Baeryn laid her head down, cheek against his chest and admired Ana. It wasn't long before she fell into a deep sleep nestled up to him.

Sasmiled softly as he cared for both of the women in his life: rocking Ana's bassinet gently with his left hand, while holding Baeryn against his chest with his right. These two were his entire world. He would die for them, he would kill for them.

More importantly...he would live for them.

~OFF~