In A Family Way - Chapter #55

Free Enterprise  -   In A Family Way  -  #55


Tamara and Amanda spirited Xena away as a couple of stewards came out and dealt with the mess.

Tyr was shocked speechless, but hid it well. Barbarossa had drilled two things firmly into young Tyr's mind. Number One: “Nietzschean arrows always fly true.” and Number Two: “Women always knew.”

Number One meant Nietzschean men NEVER experienced fertility problems like their Human cousins, so every “encounter” meant a little one(s) were on the way. Number two meant that Nietzschean women always knew that they were in a family way and what sex the baby(s) were.

It was sort of Nietzschean female machismo to hide morning sickness and other odd symptoms or cravings, so the consorts wouldn't see. And it was a sort of unwritten tradition for the lady in question to have a private repast with her consort to tell him the good news.

Since Xena may have been too distracted to do so. It was Tyr's turn to look for signs of what Barbarossa lovingly called “nesting behavior”. One of your wives suddenly shopping for, discussing or handcrafting baby things or dreaming of nurseries. Tyr didn't notice any of that. However, he did see Xena wistfully gazing at one of the smaller rooms in their new quad.

“Perhaps she was contemplating a nursery. . . “ Tyr thought.

He fondly remembered Barbarossa telling him how he'd found out Victoria was pregnant with “Tyr, the child of their older years”. Victoria had went out and bought a blue “onesie”, demanded he come and see her, and just handed it to him.

“Someone is going to be wearing that in five months. You should think of a good boy name.” she reportedly said.

Tyr frowned, recalling the many holos he'd seen of himself wearing that thing. Plus his mother still had the onesie safely packed away, because she considered it to be an Anasazi family memento.

Tyr received many congratulatory slaps on the back and shout outs from fellow Nietzscheans, family and friends. He was glad no one dared ask why his second wife was pregnant before his first.

“Tyr, why would you marry a barren woman?” he recalled Tamara asking him, months ago.

“Because I love you.” he had responded. Knowing full well that was not the typical Nietzschean male response. But, neither was he the typical Nietzschean male, he was slowly beginning to realize.

“Hey, Big Guy. Why the frown? If I remember anything you taught me about Nietzscheans, it's that they love kids. You're about to be blessed with some of your own soon!” Harper said as he smiled. Tyr couldn't help but smile back.

They sat together and chatted for a time until the women returned. All three had on new outfits. All three wore the same version of a one shouldered, little black dress. Tamara looked like a tall and deceptively willowy pixie in hers. Xena looked tall and extremely athletic in hers, and Amanda who was about three inches shy of Tyr's height, looked like a “brick house” in hers. All three women had their Double Helix’s proudly displayed on their bare left bicep.

“Come on Bo, let's blow this joint!” Amanda said, as she tugged Tyr's left arm. He remembered just in time to put his empty juice glass on a passing stewards tray before being steered out of the room.

“Blow this joint?” Tyr asked.

“Yeah, the party's really jumping next door.” Amanda replied. As the group headed down the corridor to another room. The doors opened and Tyr's ears were assailed with Prince's “We're Gonna Party Like It's 1999!”

“Koooowwwwl!” Harper said, as Monique tugged him away to dance.


* * * * * * * * * * * *


It was 0327 hours and

“Whoever invented high heeled shoes should be taken out and shot.” Tamara groused as she padded barefoot down the corridor, a pair of black, patent leather sling backs in hand.

“I suspect that person is long dead.” Tyr quipped.

“Then they need to be resurrected and shot.” Tamara said. "My poor toes and feet feel like they are broken." she continued.

“That bad, huh?” Harper asked.

“You have no idea what it's like to not only wear heels, but to dance in them. It's torture.” Monique chimed in. She too was walking barefoot and had her shoes in hand. In fact, all of the women were barefoot, while the guys were still shod.

“Tyr, where in the universe did you learn to dance your butt off like that?” Amanda asked, changing the subject.

“In Starfleet Academy.” Tyr replied. That was all he was going to say.

“Every weekend we would get passes to go off base, and we used them to go clubbing and partying. Of course we got into a lot of fights too. Everyone wanted to pick on The Big Guy with the Bone Blades.” Harper said, as he took up the conversational baton.

“After all, Tyr would walk into the place and ten minutes later all the women were all over him. The guys just didn't understand the Alpha Nietzschean thing. . . . . .” Harper continued, smiled and shrugged. He didn't add that he really didn't understand it either, but he enjoyed watching "the interpersonal dynamics". In other words, Harper enjoyed watching Tyr clean people's clocks.

“I asked because Dance Mania is having their championships in this sector next year and you should enter and compete, Tyr. They have regional competitions down on Paradiso every four months or so.” Amanda suggested. “I go because I'm a Ball room Dancing fan and love to watch. It would be nice to see someone I know compete one year.” she continued.

Tyr just smiled to himself. Privately flattered that one of his wives thought he danced well enough to compete. He added dancing to the list of things he might be doing. In response he got the instant mental impression of Tamara jumping up and down and clapping her hands in a child like manner.

“Add teaching Tamara to dance to list. . . . .” Tyr thought and sighed.

Meanwhile they had arrived at the Anasazi Quad. Harper and Monique said good night, and continued on to their guest quarters. Tamara and Amanda went in, leaving Tyr and Xena standing outside.

“Xena, why didn't you tell me much sooner?” Tyr asked, as he drew her into his arms and gave her a tender kiss on her forehead.

“Sweetness, we were both very busy and. . . . .” she started.

“This is true. You know we will have to discuss alternative scheduling and maternity leave. . . . .” Tyr began.

“I know. Details, details and more details. Come, I want to show you something.” Xena replied. Tyr followed her into the quad and to the small room he saw her in yesterday. He noted that along the way she'd snagged a small package from one of the sitting room's tables.

“Tell me, do you think this room would make good nursery?” she asked. Before Tyr could answer, she had opened the package and handed him two blue onesies. "Oh, and please add finding two boy names to your to do list when you have a chance.” she continued, and beamed. Tyr didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

For the first time in his life, he did both. . . . . . . .


NOTE TO READERS

1. Nietzscheans due to their accelerated growth factor, are ready to be born at five months, instead of the Human standard of nine. Mind you I'm only guess-imating this. Five months is NOT CANNON.

2. I have no idea if Nietzschean mothers dress their babies in "onesies". I didn't see why not. So, they do now . . . . . . Can you just imagine baby Tyr in his onesie? Everyone say, Awwwwwwwww!

3. Of course you know, NONE of this chapter is CANNON. I had great fun writing it, but I just had to make my regular disclaimer, just in case. . . . . . . . . :+}!