A Catch Up

Posted on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 2:16pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Commander William Gerhard
Edited on on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 2:16pm

Mission: Contagion
Location: Deck E - S
Timeline: Last Mission
1805 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth had put off the conversation long enough in her head, her executive officer needed to know that she was pregnant and that things were going to be changing onboard. The man had been back 24 hours and he would be getting back to work soon she just knew it. She needed to speak to him properly without him being trapped in the decon chamber with the rest of the crew that had been sent across to the base. Beth tapped on his quarter’s door hoping that Lexi was not there as it would lead to more questions when she was about to make his life very difficult.

William heard the sounds of the taps on the door to his quarters as he ran a towel through his hair. He'd immediately taken a shower after returning from the decon chamber. While he had no doubt the chamber had made him clean, he'd opted for a hot shower for his own sanity. "One second," he called out before he tossed his towel aside and pulled on a set of sweat pans and a black tank top over his head. He went over to the door and activated the door. With a soft his, the doorway slid aside to reveal Beth standing before his threshold with a tray and two mugs.

"Captain," he said slightly startled before continuing, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

“Hey, you got a few moments for a catch-up? I brought coffee?” She offered holding up a tray that held 2 large mugs and some biscuits. It was not fancy but it would do for a catch-up that was going to be good, bad and potentially ugly.

"Of course," he said before stepping aside and gesturing her in. After she stepped over the hatchway, the door slid softly shut behind her. William picked up a few PADDs from the small coffee table in the center of the room and motioned for her to place her tray on it. "I apologize for the slight mess. Surprisingly, Lexi leaves a lot of clutter around when I'm not here," he said.

"Does not sound like her. She is normally prime and proper." Beth said smiling as she glanced around at the quarters and the fact it was tidy apart from the PADDs. "Though I am surprised to not see her here." She had been sure the woman would be there and she would have to awkwardly kick her out.

"I know, who would've thought she would be unkempt," William said with a laugh, "She's currently on watch on the bridge, she didn't want Cal to be rushed back to work." He reached out and took the mug from Beth's outstretched hand. By now the two had grown close enough they knew how the other took their coffee. He took a small sip as the warm liquid warmed him immediately.

"So, based on the coffee and cookies, this isn't a social call," William said as he gave her an upraised eyebrow and sat in the desk chair as she sat on the small couch against the bulkhead.

Beth set the items down properly and fiddled with her own drink for a moment before she sat down and nodded. "Well it is and it isn't." Beth admitted throwing as she crossed her legs and looked around again. She could see several of Lexi's photographs on the wall and smiled a little before she looked at the man. "I am about to make your life very difficult." She admitted.

William gave a slight smile before taking another sip from his mug. "Ohh i doubt that. Compared to who things are normally I'm sure there's not much that can make things more difficult," William said before he gave her an expectant look.

Beth winced and closed her eyes. "I am pregnant." She finally just bit the bullet and told him waiting for either the calm composure or fireworks that were about to happen.

William felt his eyes widen slightly as the magnitude of the news hit him. He had paused mid sip before he brought the mug down from his lips. "Well," he said with an upraised eyebrow before continuing, "I guess congratulations?"

Beth let out the breath she had been holding and relaxed visably as she realised the composure was the way he was going. “Thank you.”

"Mind if i ask....who is the father," William asked not really wanting to pry to deeply into something that was obviously a sensitive issue. This was definitely new territory for them though. Starfleet regulations were quite clear with their prohibition on children aboard. Then again, there were already well outside the bounds of Starfleet regulations at this point. Not to mention the fact that the nearest admiral who could discipline them was 75 years away.

“Michael. I do not make the habit with sleeping with people and he was the first man I had been intimate with since I lost my husband nine years ago. We believe something on Relea affected my contraception as … and you do not need to know this right now William” Beth admitted realising just how a bit step it had been on reflection and how awkward it was to say it aloud. “But he is not here now and has not answered communication so… yeah I am having a baby.”

William offered a slight nod in response as he mulled her words over. He had know that she and Sloan had been close, even after his revelations. But, he had not guessed that the two had been intimate. But he had little room to pass judgement considering his current status with his fiancé. He took another sip from his mug as he continued.

“So life difficult was me being kind. This completely changes everything.” Beth sighed finally taking a sip of her drink.

"It does," William said agreeing with her sentiment. He looked over at her and offered a slight smile before continuing, "But nothing that we can't handle. I think it's safe to say that we've overcome our share of obstacles. What's adding the small pitter patter of children to the mix." He could tell this had been weighing her for some time, so he hoped his small attempt at humor would help put her at ease.

It did relax the woman a little but she was feeling the worry and future judgement of the crew. "Thank you for saying that." She whispered taking a sip of her cooling drink. It was nice to have the secret out in the open with someone other than medical sharing it.

"I'm assuming that Avira is fully aware of all this," William asked. While he was fairly certain he was, he just wanted to be sure he wouldn't be asked to keep a secret from the ship's doctor.

"Both doctors are as is your assistant chief armoury because she was mistaken as the one carrying a baby at first. That is a whole other issue but I would appreciate if...." As if summoned by the mere thought Lexi strode in and stopped dead as she looked at the scene.

"I... am... interrupting Captain?" The woman was clearly confused as she looked at the pair.

William had heard the door open and looked up before he could react. He had paused halfway as he was bringing his mug to his lips before he looked up and saw Lexi. She looked from him back to Beth as William sat his mug back down on the table. "Lexi....I thought you were still on duty," he said before he looked over at Leroux for her to take the lead on how to get out of this. Normally the captain being in his quarters was not so unusual, but the captain had just said not everyone was privy to this information. While William didn't like to keep secrets from Lexi, and he trusted that anything he did tell her she never shared, he was still unsure how to proceed with this. It was, after all, the captain's personal business.

"Seems so," Lexi commented.

"Apologises Lexi. I wanted a catch-up before the morning and knew there would be very little time if I did not bother William here." Beth said already rising to gather up a couple of the things that she had brought with her. "But I will leave you too to catch up without the decon chamber door between you."

"No... it is okay. I'll come back in a little bit." The small blonde assured grabbing up several PADDs that were labelled morale. "Can find some work to do." She said sheepishly as she practically skipped out of the room.

William watched her go as she gave him an upraised eyebrow. He knew that she would ask what this was about later, but Lexie knew that he and the captain had discussions in private before. As the door shut behind her, William turned back to Beth and gave her a sheepish grin.

"Ah... well.... that was akaward. I am sorry." Beth commented not as all sure how she could have changed that whole interaction.

"It's alright, Lexi knows that you and I have conversations in private...though this is the first time you've brought me tea," William said with a slight dismissive shrug of his shoulders. He looked back at Beth pointedly, "But, you know she is going to ask what this meeting was about when she returns." His point was left unsaid, how much of this new information was he supposed to hold back. William was not going to say anything about Beth's pregnancy to anyone, it was her business. But, he also didn't like keeping secrets from his fiancé. He and Lexi had been fairly open with each other since both of their traumatic ordeals.

"The tea was to soften the blow. I know she is going to ask and I am asking a lot to keep it from her but give me a couple of days to get everything settled down and back to normal and I will speak to her personally." Beth requested quietly picking up the cups and plate on a tray to return to the galley.

William stood as she picked up the tray and headed towards the door. He met her at the door, but hesitated before pressing the button to open the hatch. "Beth," he said, using her first name. He rarely used her first name when addressing her, and he waited for her to turn and meet his gaze before continuing. "Everything will be ok, we can get through this," he said offering her a reassuring smile.

Beth took a deep breath and nodded. “Thank you.” The woman said gently thankful that he was the one saying it. And she did not have to be the one to reassure for once. “Goodnight Commander.”