Parenting 101

Posted on Wed May 11th, 2022 @ 8:11pm by Lieutenant JG Faith Vianelli & Briella Vianelli & Ensign Rene Rouen & Lieutenant JG Jenna Jade

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Rene's Quarters
Timeline: TBD

Rene was in his quarters trying to figure out how to best care for Briella. It had been over a decade since the twins had been her age and even he had just been entering his teens back then. "Briella, what would you like for dinner?"

Briella looked up at Rene, the scowl still set on her face. She was not happy. Not happy at all. She woke up from a nap in this strange place. She didn't have her toys, or her books, or her snacks, or her blankie. She didn't even have her binky. And Momma wasn't there. But she was hungry, that much was certain. Momma had promised her ice cream and she still hadn't gotten it. The mean boy came instead and made Momma cry. "I want scream." she replied sulkily. "Stawby scream."

The door slid open without any warning and a disheveled engineering Ensign walked in, half unsealing her uniform jacket before noticing that Rene wasn't alone in his quarters, that she had access to. "Well, if it ain't?" Her face went to a brighter smile than it had before and she went to one knee, "Why Briella, what a pleasure it is to see you here tonight!" She opened her arms wide to invite a hug from the child.

Briella looked at Jenna, scowling. Normally she liked the young woman, but tonight she was clearly in a mood. "No." she pouted, turning back to Rene. "I wan scream." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Pease."

Rene glanced between Jenna and Briella. "How about a bowl of Macaroni and Cheese and then I will replicate some ice cream for you? Deal?"

Briella's voice rose into a high pitched shriek as she shook her head vehemently. "No! No Repwacata!" Retreating from both Rene and Jenna, Briella sat on the floor and cried. "Wan Momma!" she cried, hugging her knees. "Wan Momma! No repwacata!"

"Hey Sunshine," Jenna said softly to Briella, "Ah'm sure your Momma will be comin' back real soon, but while we're waitin' for her, how about Ah run back to my quarters and grab Candyland for us to play?" She put on a smile that she wasn't really feeling, throwing a worried look at Rene, "And Ah happen to have some real ice cream in the freezer there." She placed a hand over her heart, "Ah was savin' it for somethin' special, and you bein' here counts as that. Does that sound all right, Sunshine?"

As Jenna approached Briella the toddler climbed to her feet, backing slowly away from Jenna until she reached Rene, hiding behind his legs, small arms wrapping tightly around one leg before she peeked around the side. "No." she reiterated stubbornly, complete with a stuck out tongue.

Rene pondered the situation and an idea formed after a moment. "Briella, what is your favorite place to visit?"

"Momma." The toddlers response was simple. She let go of Rene's legs and wandered back across to the couch she had woken up on. She climbed up onto the couch, grabbing the blanket and dragging it up over her head, leaving her bare feet visible. "Can't see me. Go away."

With Briella not able to see them rather than the other way around, Jenna mouthed at Rene, 'I've got no idea,' her eyes were wide in some confusion as to even why Briella were there, but she settled herself down and approached the youngster, "Sunshine, Ah know Ah can't just bring your Momma here right now, but certainly there's somethin' Ah could do to make you more comfortable?"

Rene was at a loss as to what to say or do. He had never been left to care for a child. Especially under the somewhat mysterious circumstances as to why Faith had entrusted him.

Despite the fact that she was still bruised and broken, Faith had taken the first moment she could to leave sickbay on the station and headed straight for Rene's quarters. Now, more than ever, she just needed to know that Briella was okay, that her baby girl was safe from harm. Hitting the chime, she stood back and waited for him to let her in.

As she stepped inside, Faith's gaze fell first to Jenna, an expression of surprise registering on her face. "Sorry, I hope I'm not interrupting..." she murmured softly, her words cut off by the excited shriek of a small child who's universe had suddenly been righted.

"Momma!" Briella shouted as she jumped off the couch, running full pelt across the quarters and launching herself against Faith's legs. "Momma! Momma!"

Faith kneeled down in front of the small child, hugging her awkwardly, wincing at the pain in her shoulder and arm. "Hey Little Bit," she said gently. "Have you been a good girl?"

As Briella nodded vehemently Faith looked up at Rene and Jenna. "I hope she hasn't been any trouble," she offered quietly. "I'll get her out of your way so you can enjoy your evening, I'm sorry for the intrusion."

"It's not a problem at all, Faith." Jenna gave her a fond smile, "Ah hope you know it's never a bother to have you and Briella over at any time. Not a bother at all."

Rene noticed the evidence of injury and gave Faith a concerned look. "I hope you got the matter settled earlier."

Faith looked up at Rene, before glancing toward Jenna and back to Rene again, taking Briella's tiny hand in hers. "Thank you, again, I'm sorry to have been an imposition," she said quietly, deliberately evading the question. "Come on little one, home, shower and bed," she forced a smile for the sake of the small toddler. "Say thank you to Rene and Jenna."

Briella looked at Rene and Jenna, her previous recalcitrance replaced by outright glee at having her Momma back. "Fank You," she said firmly before striding determinedly toward the door, tugging on Faith's hand as she walked, her voice still clearly audible as she headed into the corridor. "I hab bubba bath? Pease? And scream? And binkie? And bearbear? And scream?"