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 Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:50 am
Eve smiled at Remi, finishing about half the bowl of noodles before setting it aside. She actually wasn't very hungry - more like she was tired from all the traveling, bu nevermind that. "I find that very impressive. I tried once or twice, the whole novel thing, but it didn't really... work out. I'm afraid cooking is all I know how to do, and so it's all I know how to write about."
Carver hadn't explained much about his position in the military either. Perhaps it was top secret? Certainly was curious, she knew that much. Alas, she also knew it was hardly her place to be asking questions, and thus Eve bit her tongue out of politeness.
Soon enough Eve was pulled from her thoughts and was frowning with sympathy at Natalie. "Well, couldn't you take him - or her - along? A daycare perhaps? I'm not familiar with the area, but I'm sure there is one. And like I said I'll likely be available most of the time." Eve really wasn't one for leaving what she considered to be "home" to go exploring, and work allowed her to write anywhere there was a computer. She threw an urgent glance at Carver, as if expecting him to offer the same.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:12 pm
"As will I, for what it's worth," Carver immediately supplied, giving Eve a warm smile in babysitting-compatriotship. "And I probably need all the practice I can get. Ms. Eve, we could probably collaborate and watch them together, I suppose. Four hands are better than two. Especially if they're my two."
He finished the whole bowl of noodles, dabbled again with the handkerchief, and stood up to take it to the sink and rinse it out. "The area's pretty isolated - I'm not sure about the daycare. You also have to wonder if, er, a daycare would take a feathery baby. - But please, feel free to call on me for whatever you need. I'm good at lifting, hammering, and taking out the rubbish."
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:22 pm
"I work from home, so I'm available most of the time as well," Remi offered. They all seemed to be available most of the time, with Natalie as the exception of course. "I guess we could just start one big babysitting cycle where we dump all our kids on one person for the day."
She chuckled as she said it, though it might not be that bad of an idea. She'd just have to figure out how to handle three or four toddlers in one sitting. Handling Gavin by himself was an enormous task, but maybe if he was distracted by friends he wouldn't have as much time to wreck havoc.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:53 am
"Carver has a good point," Natalie said, thoughful, taking another bite of her noodles. "And besides that, I'm not sure I'd like the stigma they'd probably attach to me being a single mother who's not even twenty. Probably would be a bit... tense." She shrugged.
"Oh! In return for all this help - I'm majoring in clothing design and construction - mostly costumes, but fashion, too. So, if your kids need any clothing, just ask - I'll see what I can do. I should be able to work around things like wings and tails..."
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:03 am
"How strange," Eve sighed, rubbing the back of her hand against her cheek. "I never really expected to have to work around things like tails or - or whatever else, really." She somehow doubted that Carver's baby books provided helpful information about what to do if your baby flew out the window or something. Lord above, this was like a foray into another world! "But thank you for your offer, Natalie. I'm sure I'll end up taking you up on it."
Though there was no reason to believe that her child would have any superfluous features. For all she knew, she could get a perfectl pink and plump baby, normal as any other one - and normal was a rather relative term anyway.
"It really is no trouble at all though. I love kids. I just... hope the feeling is mutual." Eve laughed nervously, drumming her finger tips together and suddenly looking a little pale. This was a big step for her.
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:42 pm
"I can't imagine they would be anything but."
Carver smiled at Eve sympathetically, obviously having been the harbringer of the same worries; though a laid-back creature, he unfortunately was as neurotic about the coming child as a neurasthenic Victorian maiden. He was also relieved that, no matter what, ... stuff, ... poked out of his baby's skin, Natalie would be able to make sure that it walked around not violating any code of conduct or the Geneva convention.
"I think that so long as we can rely on each other, we'll be fine," he added gently. "A network of, well, capable adults, ... and one capable young lady, of course, Miss Natalie. People have been having children since time began. Buck up, my girls. We'll handle it. Miss Remi seems to have been doing so admirably."
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:03 pm
Remi perked up at Natalie's offer of custom clothing. So far, she'd just been cut small holes in the backs of Gavin's shirts to let his wings out easily. Of course, taking them off sometimes proved difficult, but it worked. However, she made a mental note to keep Natalie in mind the next time Gavin outgrew a set of clothing.
When Carver said she'd been doing 'admirably,' she couldn't help but snort into her noodles, sending salty broth up her nose. After a short coughing fit from some reaching the back of her throat, she rasped out,
"Admirably? Somehow I wouldn't call chasing a toddler around the compound at night just to get him into the bathtub admirable."
She laughed, trying to make sure she wasn't adding to the anxiety of becoming a parent. The memories really were enjoyable.
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:11 pm
"I have no idea if I like being around kids - it hasn't been tested since I WAS a kid. But... hopefully. Though," she said, looking at Remi and wincing sympathetically, "I hope mine actually likes taking baths. That'd make life easy."
Natalie finished up her noodles, dumping the bowl in the sink for the time being and heading out into the room proper with all of her guests.
"At the very least, they seem to grow quickly - right, Remi? They start as toddlers, anyway. Meaning they'll sleep through the night, and sort of be able to tell us what they need. Not too much guesswork." I hope.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:47 pm
"I think so long as your toddler manages to avoid bodily injury, you're doing a good job," Eve replied with a nod in Remi's direction. "Or at least I hope so, I don't know whether I'll be able to do much more than that."
Well, best not to make assumptions. Who knew? Maybe she'd make a fabulous mother. At least she knew she could cook a fairly hearty meal.
"Perhaps I best get settled into my apartment," Eve sighed, standing up. "I have the feeling I'm going to be unpacking until late and I'm washed enough as is. Mind giving me a few directions?" A hopeful glance at Carver and Remi, as she did get hopelessly lost much too easily.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:55 pm
"Of course," Carver said gallantly, standing to join her, brushing himself off. "It's getting dark; I'll walk you back. I should probably clean out the last of my things, too. - Miss Natalie, don't forget, I am here to do your heavy lifting. Thank you so much for the meal. And it was good to meet you, Miss Remi."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:29 pm
Remi blinked. Was it getting that late already? She looked down at her watch, which she constantly forgot she even wore. Wow, it was getting late. Gavin had probably destroyed the apartment by now...again.
"It's nice meeting you too," she smiled. "But since I think most of us are all heading in the same direction I might as well go to. Building by the gardens, right? I'm on the fourth floor, so it's on the way."
She put down her now-empty bowl of noodles on a nearby box, using it as a makeshift table. Standing off she brushed off any dust from the cardboard off her pants.
"Thanks again for the noodles Natalie," she said, following after Eve and Carver. "I'll have to return the favor sometime."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:42 pm
Natalie waved, laughing.
"You're all very welcome. Come again soon! Until then, I'll stay back here in the middle of nowhere! You guys have fun. I'd better start unpacking soon...."
She had half a mind to invite Carver back the next day to help her, but then she reminded herself of two things. One, she could do it herself. Two, he has his own unpacking and probably Eve's, too.
As such, once they left, Natalie ran the bowls under the sink and left them there for later. Then she rolled up her sleeves.
Time to clean.
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