Seasick: (April 1062, a month after Skari is born)
Like usual, the Seasick household was buzzing with activity, as 9 children all ran around the house laughing, screaming and crying in the early morning hours. Seasick, 38, however was more focused on the newest member of the family, Skari, who was born a month early. He was so little and frail that Seasick constantly worried that he wouldn’t survive.
As she nursed him in the bedroom, Ellidi along with eldest children Eydis and Havelock tried to clean up the house for the arrival of their Aunt Grey and her family.
Grey: “Mommy, are we there yet?” eight-year-old Dagny Felman suddenly asked as she gripped onto her nine-year-old brother’s Sven’s shirt in front of him.
“We’re almost there, sweetie,” 38-year-old Chief Grey replied from where she sat on her loyal Night Fury, Shadow. “How is it back there, Brandt?”
“We’re doing pretty good, Grey, right Kari?” 38-year-old Brandt replied as he turned to the little six-year-old in his arms.
“Whee!!!” Kari shouted as she held her arms up in the air letting the wind brush against her face. “Tell Shadow to go faster, Mommy!”
Grey laughed at her daughter’s love for flying. “I wish I could, honey,” she said, “but we’re a bit too heavy for Shadow. Besides, we’re just about there.”
“YAY!!!” all three children shouted in unison.
With that, the Night Fury crooned and swooped down to make a landing on the island of Peaceable Country.
“Now, kids, remember,” the Chief said to her children. “Aunt Seasick has a baby now, so you need to be careful not to make any loud noises okay?”
“Yes, Mommy,” Sven, Dagny, and Kari said in unison as their parents helped them to dismount the Night Fury.
S: At the sound of a large thud, Eydis looked out the kitchen window and saw that Grey and her family had arrived.
“Dad! Aunt Grey is here!!” She called out to her father.
Quickly racing to the door, Ellidi opened it and welcomed the guests. “I hope the flight wasn’t too bad. The weather seems to change every hour.” He said as he let the family in.
The rest of the seachildren all gathered around the front entrance, ready to play with their cousins.
G: “Oh, it wasn’t too bad,” Grey said as they walked up to the front door with Shadow in tow.
Dagny gasped as soon as she saw Seasick’s eldest son, Havelock. “HAVIE!!” she shouted as she sprinted over to the boy in front of her wrapping her arms around his middle. “I missed you!”
S: “That’s good to hear!” Ellidi replied.
Havelock blushed as Dagny hugged him. He could hear the giggles from his sisters, knowing full well that they would tease him for this. “I missed you too, Dagny.” He said awkwardly.
“Saedis is nursing little Skari in the bedroom.” Ellidi explained as he helped the family settle in in the living room. “He was born a month early and is really quite small. We’re not even sure if he’ll make it, but we’re hoping for the best.”
G: Grey’s face fell at the mention of Seasick’s last baby being born a month too early as she took off her children’s coats and placed them on a nearby coat rack. This was certainly new information for her. It was bad enough when she herself had to experience a miscarriage, but to experience a baby being born too early…Grey could only imagine what her best friend was going through.
“Oh my gods, I had no idea,” she said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
S: “I’m not sure, I’m afraid.” Ellidi said simply. “But you can go see them in the bedroom down the hall. I’m sure Saedis would love that.”
G: “Great, thank you, Ellidi,” the Chief replied as she moved to get her children. However, she stopped when she saw that all three of them were happily playing with their cousins, especially Dagny and Havelock. She could tell just how much she missed the boy, despite the fact that they had been communicating via letters. She then turned to her husband. “They can see the baby when Seasick is ready to show him off. It’s probably better that way.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Brandt said. “I’ll stay and keep Ellidi company. You go on ahead.”
Grey chuckled and gave Brandt a quick peck on the cheek. “You’re the best,” she said before walking down the hall to get to Seasick’s bedroom. Soon enough, she came to a door that was open a crack and gently knocked. “Seasick?”
S: “Come in!” Seasick called out to Grey. In the corner of the room, Seasick sat in a rocking chair nursing little Skari. However, he was so tiny and so bundled up tat it looked like she was just holding a large blanket.
“You guys got here fast.” She said, smiling up at Grey. “I didn’t expect you for a few more hours.”
G: “To be honest, I’m surprised we managed to get here at all,” Grey said as she quietly walked in and closed the door behind her. “I’ve never really had Shadow fly with anywhere further than King Haddock’s palace with all five of us.” She finally turned around and gasped smiling at the sight in front of her. There was one of her best friends with her newborn baby, so she slowly walked over to get a closer look at the little bundle of joy. “Oh, Seasick, he’s beautiful. Hey, little guy,” she added as she moved to stroke his cheek.
S: Seasick’s smile faded as she looked down at her new son. “’Little’ is right. He’s so small Grey, what am I going to do?” She asked sadly. “None of my other children were this small… of course, they weren’t a month early either…”
G: The Chief of Haligan Island knelt down to Seasick’s level giving her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. It was easy to see that the baby was indeed smaller than normal based on what she remembered when all three of her children were born. Granted it was only a month, but still…it was surely nerve-wracking just thinking about what could possibly happen.
“What happened?” Grey asked. “I mean, Ellidi explained he was born a month too early, but…did something happen to cause it?”
S: “Everything was going pretty well, like usual,” Seasick explained. “but last month I was having pains and the next thing I know, out popped Skari. Aside from being early and small, the midwife said he should pull through… but given the circumstances… I should expect the worst.”
G: Grey furrowed her eyebrows together in concern as she looked at Seasick and then at Skari. Having children herself and even going through a miscarriage of her own after Kari was born…it’s just heartbreaking hearing the possibility of your precious child not pulling through.
“He’ll pull through, Seasick,” she finally said. “He’s strong, and he has you as a mother.”
S: “I know… Deep down, I think he will pull through, but…” Seasick paused, thinking of Skari’s potential future. “I think if he survives, it won’t be easy for him. But he’s got his parents and siblings, and his awesome Aunt Grey that’ll be there to help him out at every turn.”
G: “Of course, he will,” Grey said smiling at her new nephew, “ and his uncle Brandt and three cousins will be there too.” She then looked up at Seasick. “We’ll do whatever we can to help. I promise.”
S: Seasick smiled and let out a quiet laugh. “I think Skari will be my last child. And I’m actually serious this time. No more children… 10 is a good number.”
G: Grey couldn’t help but snicker as she quickly put her hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter. “Seasick, the last time you said that, you ended up being pregnant the next time I saw you.”
S: “I know, I know,” Seasick laughed, waking Skari slightly. “But I was slightly younger then… I don’t know, after the scare Skari gave me… and continues to give me, I think he really will be the last one. It must be a sign.”
G: Grey sighed sadly thinking back on when she and Brandt made that decision as well. “Yeah, I can understand that,” she said running a hand through the baby’s fine hair. “The gods sure have a funny way of telling us to stop having kids.”
S: “Oh, I should have stopped after the 4th child, honestly.” Seasick said. “But then if I had, I wouldn’t have met the rest of my children, and that would be sad. But with 10 children, I have a very full but happy house, and that’s what really matters.”
G: “Exactly,” Grey said. “You should count your blessings, Seasick. You have 10 great kids and a loving husband, a great dragon, and a terrific home. And Skari will grow up to be a strong man, capable of doing great things.”
S: “Hmm I’m sure you’re right.” Seasick said. “Well, he looks sleepy… I’ll put him down and we can join the rest of the family in the living room. I haven’t seen your kids in a while, I’m sure they’ve grown so much!”
G: “Oh, they have,” Grey said happily. “Sven and Dagny just had their birthdays recently. Kari’s is coming up in a few months, so she’s a little jealous that her older siblings managed to get presents before her.”
S: “Aw, well then you’ll have to get her something extra special, you know to spoil her.” Seasick laughed as she placed Skari in his crib. Quietly, Seasick led Grey ut of the bedroom and joined the rest of the family. “Wow! Kari is that you?” Seasick asked as she saw the young girl. “You’ve gotten so big!!”
G: Kari looked up and smiled at the sound of her aunt’s voice. The compliment regarding her being big was enough to make her shoot up and run over to Seasick hugging her. “Aunt Seasick!” she shouted.
“Kari, shh,” Grey said gently. “The baby is sleeping. You need to be quiet.”
The little girl blushed as her siblings ran over to join their sister and Seasick. “Oh, sorry,” she said bashfully.
S: “Oh, Grey it’s fine.” Seasick said, hugging Kari and then Sven and Dagny. “Oh look how big you three have gotten! Stop growing up so fast!”
G: “We can’t do that, Aunt Seasick,” Kari said innocently, “because then I won’t get to have my birthday!”
Grey laughed at her youngest daughter’s comment. “Aunt Seasick knows that, sweetie,” she said stroking Kari’s cheek. “She just wishes you could stay babies forever.”
“No way do I want to be a baby for the rest of my life!” Sven said excitedly. “I’m going to be Chief of Haligan Island, Aunt Seasick. A baby can’t be a chief.”
S: “That’s very true, Sven.” Seasick said as she went and sat down in one of the living room chairs. “Ellidi, dear, I told you to watch Isey, what’s that she’s got in her hand??” She said, pointing to their youngest daughter on the floor.
“It’s only a piece of bread, Saedis, calm down.” Ellidi said as he took the small piece of bread from his daughter’s hand. “I’m sure you guys are glad that you don’t have to deal with babies anymore, huh?”
G: “Well, as much as I would love to have more kids,” Grey said as she sat down in a chair running a hand through her son’s hair as he returned to join the other kids and his sisters, “I am happy with my three little darlings.”
Brandt smiled sadly at his wife as he kissed her on the temple. “I will say this though,” he said. “At least we don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night anymore for feedings or diaper-changing. Has Skari been keeping you guys up a lot?”
S: “Yeah, but it’s mostly because I’m constantly checking on him.” Seasick replied. “I worry too much about him.”
“I’m sure once this month passes, he’ll be in the clear, dear.” Ellidi said as he sat down next to her, with Isey in in arms.
G: “Well, if he was only born a month early,” Grey said as she gently tickled Isey’s stomach, “then that should increase his chances. That, and having Seasick as a mother.”
S: “I’m… I’m not actually as tough as I look…” Seasick said quietly, looking down at her hands in her lap. “And I don’t know if I’m an expert in being a mother…”
“Nonsense, dear!” Ellidi boomed. “You just need to have a little more faith! Remember how small Eivi was? Now look at her! She’s runnin’ around like the rest of our children! Skari will be fine.”
G: “Seasick, you’ve been handling nine kids just fine so far before Skari was born,” Brandt said leaning over to his wife’s friend. “Ellidi’s right. Skari will be fine.”
“I know it may not seem like it now, Seasick,” Grey chimed in, “but that baby in that room has a lot to live for. He may be small, but he’ll be strong.”
S: “I appreciate you two comforting me,” Seasick replied with a faint smile. “But I’m still going to worry. I always worry over my newborns. I can’t help it.”
“Well, worry not, because in the end, Grey and Brandt are right, Skari will be strong.” Ellidi said.
G: Grey smiled as she stood up and walked over to Seasick placing both hands on her best friend’s shoulders. After being a mother herself, she knew exactly what Seasick was talking about, but that did not stop her from wanting to comfort her best friend.
“Yes, Brandt and I are right, Ellidi,” the Chief finally said, “but Seasick is also right. We mothers will always worry about our babies until the day we die, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t lose hope too.”
S: Seasick sighed and then glanced at Isey. The little girl was murmuring and squirming in her father’s hands, and it made Seasick smile. “Well, I suppose I will take your advice for now, and have hope.” She said.
“That is a good plan!” Ellidi said, smiling back at her. Suddenly his smile faded and he grew serious. “Wait.. why is it suddenly so quiet? Where did all the kids go?”
G: Grey suddenly straightened up as she looked around the room only to see that Ellidi was right. All the kids were gone! Her heart began to pound a little. “I’m not sure,” she said as she looked around. “Kids!”
S: “We’re in the bedroom!” Eydis called from Seasick’s room.
“Oh that’s ni- WHAT?” Seasick suddenly yelled, rushing to her feet and racing down the hall to her room. “You’re going to wake Skar–”
In the small bedroom, all of Seasick and Grey’s children were standing around Skari’s crib, silently looking down on the sleeping child.
G: “Hi, Mommy! Hi, Daddy!” Kari whispered looking up from the crib to where Grey and Brandt were standing in the doorway with Seasick.
“Oh, thank Thor,” Grey said sighing in relief as she walked over to her three children standing next to the crib. “We were so worried when we couldn’t find you. What are you doing here?”
“We wanted to see the baby,” Sven replied, “but we knew that you wouldn’t let us come here.”
“Well, buddy, we probably wouldn’t have,” Brandt said from the doorway, “but you should still ask for permission.”
S: “It’s okay Uncle Brandt!” Eydis whispered. “Mom always told us to be quiet around our younger siblings, so we’re used to it. We just had to tell Sven, Dagny and Kari really nicely to be quiet.”
“Well, that’s great that you followed my rules, dear, but I still want you to tell us when you want to see Skari.” Seasick said.
G: “We’re sorry,” Sven, Dagny, and Kari said in unison.
Grey smiled and kissed her children. “It’s okay,” she said. “Next time, just tell us, alright?”
“Yes, Mommy,” Dagny said. She then turned back to the baby in the cradle. “He’s so small and cute.”
“Why is he so small?” Kari asked.
S: “He’s small because he was born a month early.” Seasick explained, looking down at Skari. “He was supposed to be born this month, but he just couldn’t wait to meet all of you. If he waited, he would’ve been a little bit bigger.”
“Maybe he’ll be like Uncle Furious!” Havelock said excitedly. “You said he started out small, and now look at him! He’s huge!!! Skari’ll be just like that!!”
G: “Was Uncle Furious born a month early too?” Dagny asked.
“Well, no, honey, not exactly,” the Chief replied as she knelt down next to her children to make sure they didn’t overwhelm the baby. “Dragon babies are different than people babies.”
“What does a month early even mean?” Sven asked curiously.
Grey paused trying to figure the best way to answer her eldest son’s question. She looked at Seasick and Brandt and then back at Sven, who was staring at her with brown eyes. “Well, honey,” she began, “babies are supposed to grow in the mommy’s tummy for nine months, and Skari decided that nine months was too long for him and wanted to come out of Aunt Seasick’s tummy now.”
“Why didn’t you say no, Aunt Seasick?” Kari asked. “Like when Mommy and Daddy tell us ‘no’ when we do something we’re not supposed to?”
S: “Well dear, um, in this case, I had to listen to Skari,” Seasick said, trying not to laugh. “He really wanted to meet you, and I… I couldn’t stop him from getting what he wanted.”
“An example of him being a fighter. Right there.” Ellidi said.
G: “Ohhhh,” all three children said in unison as they turned their sights back to Skari.
“Do you guys have any other questions?” Brandt asked the children.
S: “They probably want to know how he eats…” ellidi said quietly under his breath, much to Seasick’s annoyance.
“How about we all go have some lunch? And give Skari some more time to sleep?” Seasick said to all the children.
G: “Can we see him later when he wakes up?” Sven asked.
“We’ll see when he does, okay?” Grey said gently stroking Sven’s cheek.
“Okay,” Sven, Dagny, and Kari said in unison.
“I’m hungry,” Kari said dashing out of the room.
“Havie, can you sit next to me?” Dagny asked taking Havelock’s hand into hers about to drag him out of the room.
S: “Ah yeah sure Dagny…” Havelock said, blushing.
As all the children and their parents left the bedroom and walked back to the living room and kitchen, Seasick noticed Grey’s long hair.
“Wow, Grey, I didn’t realize just how long your hair has gotten!” Seasick exclaimed, staring at it in awe.
G: The Chief looked at Seasick curiously before realizing that she was right. Her brown hair had gotten longer over the years. It was no longer the shoulder-length she had during the rebellion and had grown down to almost past her bottom. People had been telling her to cut it, but she never paid attention to it.
“Oh, I guess it has,” Grey said casually. “I never fully realized.”
“Yeah, because you’re not looking at from behind…especially on a dragon,” Brandt said raising an eyebrow at his wife.
Grey could only roll her eyes at his comment.
S: “How do you keep it so well maintained? Isn’t it difficult to wash?” Seasick asked as she let the couple into the kitchen. “I suppose you’ll have to cut it eventually.”
G: Grey widened her eyes as Seasick made her suggestion and blushed as Brandt snickered.
“Seasick, believe me,” Brandt finally said. “We’ve been trying to tell her that, but never once has she budged.”
“And I never will,” Grey said elbowing her husband in the stomach. “I love my hair just the way it is.”
S: “Even when it hits the floor? And gets constantly dirty?” seasick asked while preparing a soup. “At least give it a trim.”
“Oh you women and your hair. I will never understand.” Ellidi said sarcastically.
G: “Oh please,” Grey said rolling her eyes. “It doesn’t get that dirty.”
“Yes, it does,” Brandt said casually.
S: “Look, I’m not forcing you or anything,” Seasick said. “I just seriously think you should consider it. Even cutting it a little bit, that’ll make it healthier.”
“Not saying it’s not healthy right now…” Ellidi added quickly.
G: Grey looked at Ellidi and Seasick with the most deadpan expression she could muster up. “Uh-huh,” she simply said. “Well, I appreciate your consideration and your suggestion, but I will make the final decision as to what I will do with my hair. If I’m the Chief and can make decisions for an entire village, I’m pretty sure I can make my own decisions about my hair.”
S: “Okay, Okay, we’re dropping the subject right now.” Seasick said, as she continued to put together the soup’s ingredients. “I only brought it up because I wanted to know how long it takes you to braid it every day.”
G: Grey furrowed her eyebrows together in confusion. “Hmm, I’m not sure,” Grey said looking at her long brown hair. “I’ve never really put it in a braid. Warren would occasionally but it was always just for fun.”
S: “But how do you do that, every single day?” Seasick asked. “How do you keep it clean and not all ratty looking when it’s not tied back? I couldn’t stand it.”
G: “Well, it’s no picnic,” Grey said shrugging, “but I manage alright. Most of the time I’m walking around with Shadow, so it doesn’t get as messy as it would in the air.”
S: “Well, we do have time to kill…” Seasick said quietly. “Hey, Grey, do you… do you mind if I… if I braid your hair? I mean, none of my children have long hair, so I never get to braid anyone’s hair besides my own…”
G: “Uhh…” Grey said staring at her best friend in confusion. Where did this come from? “Sure, I suppose…if you really want to.”
S: With a smile, Seasick quickly stood up behind Grey and began to separate her hair into two parts and began to crisscross small parts of Grey’s long hair. “The only time I really got to braid hair was with my sister, but that was when we were just kids.” She explained.
“I’m sure if you were to visit her Saedis, she’d let you.” Ellidi said as he watched the soup cook. “If I recall correctly, he hair is pretty long now too. Not as long as Grey’s but a decent length.”
G: “Oh what? My hair is indecent now,” Grey said raising an eyebrow at Seasick’s husband. “Thanks, Ellidi.”
S: “I just meant that Særún’s length is more practical, that’s all.” Ellidi said simply. “She keeps it braided and tied up and–”
“Because she’s constantly out in the fields, working,” Seasick interrupted. “She’s a working woman who has to keep it tied up and out of her face. Grey doesn’t have to do that because her job doesn’t call for it.”
G: “Exactly,” Brandt said smirking. “All she needs to do is order people around and fly on Shadow.”
Grey rolled her eyes at her husband. “Come on, Brandt,” she said. “You know I don’t just order people around. I just don’t have tasks as extensive as Seasick’s sister does.” That was when she remembered something that Seasick brought up a few years ago. “Speaking of siblings, have you ever had any luck in finding your birth family?”
S: Seasick stopped braiding Grey’s hair for a moment. She had forgotten all about her real birth family, the one that cast her out when she was a baby.
“No, no I haven’t.” Seasick said simply, resuming her braiding. “Mostly because I haven’t bothered. Do you know how many blue-eyed blonde men and women are on this island that have cast out their child? It’d be impossible for me to find them.”
“Tracker dragons, dear.” Ellidi said.
G: Grey inwardly cringed when she heard Seasick’s reply. It was already difficult when she and Warren managed to track down her biological parents. Of course, it would be difficult for Seasick to track down her family.
“I-I’m sorry,” Grey said nervously. “I-It’s just I remember we talked about you possibly finding them when Sven was a baby.”
S: “No, I remember that too. I just… I just have no desire to find them.” Seasick said simply. “And it’s like I said all those years ago, I have no real way to prove that I’m their daughter, or that they’re my parents. Besides, there’s always a chance that my birth family aren’t great people.”
G: Grey turned her head as best as she could so that she could look at Seasick and smiled.”It’s up to you, my friend,” she said, “and I’ll support you in any way I can.”
“Man, look at you two,” Brandt said shaking his head and smiling.
“What?” Grey asked curiously.
S: “Well, don’t hold your breath Grey. I doubt I’ll change my mind on the matter any time soon.” Seasick replied with a small smile.
Seasick was now halfway done Grey’s braid and it was coming a long nicely. It looked similar to a fishtail braid, albeit with some of Seasick’s own flare to it.
“What about us, Brandt?” Seasick asked Brandt.
G: “It’s just…I really admire how close you two are,” Brandt said as he sat down in a chair. “You guys have been best friends for years, and you still are despite the fact that you don’t see each other often and live on different islands.”
Grey smiled. “Yeah…seventeen years…” she said realizing. “We’ve been best friends for 17 whole years.”
S: “Hm we should celebrate once we hit 20,” Seasick laughed. “I think it’s because we write to each other, and that helps us stay in touch even when we’re apart.”
G: “That’s true,” Grey said remembering all the times she and Seasick had written to each other after Seasick left the Rebellion. She then giggled. “Remember when I wrote to you that Brandt and I had our first kiss.”
“Wait, what?” Brandt asked raising an eyebrow.
S: “Oh yeah! I actually still have it in my giant pile of letters.” Seasick replied. “I didn’t even know how to respond, you were so excited over it.”
G: Grey laughed out loud remembering actually writing in capital letters to talk about their first kiss. “Hey, come on, it was the first time I was kissed by someone who wasn’t either my mom or dad,” she said. “I had a right.”
“Wait…you actually wrote to Seasick about our first kiss?” Brandt asked in shock.
“Of course,” Grey said shrugging. “Girls talk, honey.”
S: “Oh, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Seasick said, nearing the end of the braid. “All Grey said in the letter was how she left about you and the kiss and how excited that she possibly found the One.”
G: Brandt blinked a few times when Seasick finished speaking. “Really?” he asked.
“I ended up marrying you, didn’t I?” Grey said.
“Well, I know,” he said shrugging. “Still…it’s nice to know that you’re really…really loved it.”
S: “She went on and on about how she felt and how amazing you were.” Seasick said as she thought back to the letter. “It was rather sweet.”
G: Brandt chuckled. “Well, if I do remember correctly,” he said, “we just stood there for a few seconds when we pulled apart.”
“Oh come on,” Grey said, “it was our first kiss. Not to mention our first date. We were nervous.”
S: “Soup is ready!!!” Ellidi called out, pouring everyone a bowl.
“Just in time, I’ve finished your braid!” Seasick said, showing Grey the braid. “Even all these years later, you two are still so cute together.”
G: Grey smiled as she turned to look at the braid. “Oh wow,” she said. “Seasick, this is beautiful! Thank you so much!”
“Wow, quite the workmanship, Seasick,” Brandt said inspecting his wife’s new hair-due.
S: “Eh, it’s nothing.” Seasick said simply. “Just something I’ve been able to do forever.”
G: “Oh, it’s not nothing, stop,” Grey said as she twirled around getting used to the feeling of her braid holding her hair back. “I love it!” She gave her best friend a small hug. “Thank you!” She then turned to her children, who were gathering at the table with the others. “Guys, what do you think of Mommy’s new braid?”
“Ooooh, it’s pretty, Mommy,” Kari said smiling.
“I love it, Mommy!” Dagny said from where she sat next to Havelock.
S: “Well, I guess if you ever want to have your hair braided again, you know who to see!” Seasick laughed as she helped some of her children get their lunch.
“Mommy, can you braid my hair next?” Saeros asked quietly.
“Oh here we go, here comes the lineup!” Ellidi laughed.
G: “Me too!” Kari shouted happily.
Grey couldn’t help but laugh at her youngest daughter. “Aw, but Kari sweetie, you already have braids,” she said gesturing to the two braids in her daughter’s hair.
“I know,” she said bashfully, “but I didn’t want to be left out.”
S: “You won’t be left out sweetie.” Seasick said to the young girl. “But your mom is right, you already have two pretty braids. However, I can show you how to braid when I do Saero’s hair.”
G: Kari gave the biggest smile she could muster up and stood up in her seat. “Could you, Aunt Seasick?!” she asked excitedly. “Maybe I can braid Dagny’s hair! Please teach me!”
“What about my hair?” Dagny asked breaking off her conversation with Havelock.
“Aunt Seasick is going to teach me how to braid so that I can do your hair,” Kari said excitedly.
“Oh okay!” Dagny said. “Can I have a braid like Mommy’s?”
“Of course, you can, Dags,” Grey said smiling at her middle child.
S: “Don’t worry dears, I will show you both how to braid right after–” Seasick was cut off by the sounds of Skari crying in the bedroom. “Right after I deal with Skari. Perhaps Eydis can show you, even though she doesn’t have long hair.”
Eydis, who was sitting at the end of the table, suddenly perked up at the sound of her name. “Uh, yeah I can show you how to braid. It’s not really hard…”
G: “I’ll help you with Skari,” Grey said as she followed Seasick into the bedroom where the screaming infant was.
“How do you braid, Eydis?” Kari asked the eldest of Seasick’s children.
S: “Um… you just get several strands of hair and just… crisscross them i guess…” Eydis replied, a little unsure of how to explain it to the girl.
In the bedroom, Seasick picked up little Skari and tried to calm him down, not no avail.
G: Grey watched in the doorway as Seasick attempted to calm her baby down, but it didn’t seem to work. The baby still continued to cry. The Chief couldn’t help but remember when Sven cried so much when he was a baby and how lost she and Brandt felt being new parents.
“Maybe he needs to be changed?” she suggested walking up to her best friend.
S: “No, I checked.” Seasick said simply as she rocked her son. “I think it’s because he’s cold. He usually cries like this after he wakes up… that or he is feeling unwell. I hate that I can’t tell.”
G: “Does he get sick often?” Grey asked placing her hand on the baby’s forehead to check for a fever.
S: “Because he was born a month early, he’s more vulnerable to sickness,” Seasick explained. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he was coming down with something right now…”
G: Grey looked down sadly at her newborn nephew feeling the heat radiating from his forehead. She looked up at Seasick with her eyebrows furrowed together in concern. “He does feel a little warm,” she said.
S: Seasick sighed. “Looks like it’s going to be another long night.” She said simply. “I also forgot to ask, where would you like to sleep tonight? I suppose the farthest from Skari’s crying, right?”
G: “Oh, we have no preference, Seasick,” Grey said stroking Skari’s cheek. “If anything, I would like to be close enough to help you with Skari. Sven, Dagny, and Kari would love to bunk with the kids.”
S: “Well, the kids have plenty of options.” Seasick laughed slightly. “Well, I guess you and Brandt can bunk in the room across the hall. That way, if I do need your help during the night, you will be close by.”
G: “Perfect!” Grey said smiling. “I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Just name it.”
S: “Thanks for being here.” Seasick said, smiling at Grey. “I hope our crazy, dysfunction house won’t drive you away too fast.”
G: The Chief rolled her eyes and laughed. “Seasick, nothing can drive me away,” she said. “You would do the same for me. Well, you have…plenty of times really, but you know what I mean. Besides,” she gently took Skari into her arms, “I’m looking forward to getting to know this guy here. Aunt Grey is going to spoil him to bits.”
S: “If he makes it.” Seasick said sadly. “Sorry , sorry. I know I need to be positive, but it’s hard when he’s like this and he can’t tell me what’s bothering him.”
G: “If he makes it.” Seasick said sadly. “Sorry , sorry. I know I need to be positive, but it’s hard when he’s like this and he can’t tell me what’s bothering him.”
S: “That’s actually a terrifying thought,” Seasick replied, looking down at her son in Grey’s arms. “I can’t imagine him getting into the same kind of trouble we got into…”
G: “Hopefully, none of our children will have to,” Grey replied looking at the baby in her arms. She knew where Seasick was coming from. She herself hated the idea of any of her children having to deal with what she dealt with during her rebellion days. “But from the looks of where things are going, the future is looking pretty bright.”
S: “Perhaps you’re right,” Seasick said, gently taking back Skari in her arms. “He looks like he’s quieted down… Perhaps he was just cranky or missed his mommy…”
G: “Maybe he was jealous that we were outside with the kids,” Grey said raising an eyebrow handing him back to Seasick. “Or maybe he likes the idea of Aunt Grey spoiling him to bits.”
S: “Maybe… I do like that idea though,” seasick replied. “Although, I’m not sure if it’s wise to pick favourites… the other kids may get jealous.”
G: Grey chuckled. “Seasick, I could never pick any favorites,” she said. “I love all of your kids as if they were my own just as much as you love mine. It’s just…after what Brandt and I went through…and seeing what you’re going through now with Skari…I-I don’t know…I’m just feeling…I don’t know…”
S: “Yeah, I understand.” Seasick said simply. “It’s hard to be supportive and to be strong when we really don’t know what will happen. But all we can do is pray and try to stay positive.”
G: “Absolutely,” Grey said. “He has a lot to live for, and he will see it through. With all the support from his family, there shouldn’t be any trouble doing just that.”
S: “I’ll be sure to tell him how much his Aunt Grey cared about him and spoiled him.” Seasick said. “I looked forward to seeing you two create a great relationship.”
G: The Chief smiled at the baby in her best friend’s arms. It was still so hard to believe that the baby was as small as he was, but that only made Grey want more than ever to make he had a good life…to make sure that he pull through this obstacle in his life. “I’m sure we will,” she said, “and the kids already love him.”
S: “Speaking of the kids, I suupose we should go join them.” Seasick said. “Skari should start young and meet his new cousins. Create that bond now instead of later.”
G: “Couldn’t agree more,” Grey said smiling wider. “Come on.” With that, the Chief led her best friend out of the bedroom to join their husbands and children.