[Open Post] And she smiles at the future.

[lifeinhallways]

An announcement was pinned in the common room the day after the birth.  It was a simple one, announcing the birth of Michelle's daughter, Tamara Faraday, (7lbs even) and assurances that mother and child are both doing well

Comments

[arid_white_lady]

Aredhel probably knew through the grapevine that Michelle was coming, before the notice was posted (she might even have been tasked by her cousin with said posting, typist permitting).

And so she'll poke her head in early, chuckling at the set up.

"It seems you are holding court," she tells Michelle. "Must I curtsy now?"

Her daughters may be in tow, but for now, they're not visible.

[lifeinhallways]

As Aredhel was the one to post the notice, Michelle's hardly surprised to see her. Is it at all probably Aredhel might've been to the treehouse and have met young Tamara previously?

"It's not my court." Michelle smiles, but she looks tired -- happy, but tired. "Little miss here is the centre of attention, but she'll never expect such a thing from anyone."

Little miss isn't sleeping, but she's not fully awake either.

[arid_white_lady]

It is indeed quite possible - the girls love their uncle Moryo and would have been happy to come up to the treehouse.

"You seem to know your babe quite well, and she's not even spoken a word yet," she replies, chuckling. The truth is Aredhel is always bemused by how slow human babies are to become autonomous.

She'll come and sit near, though. "I reckon your friends will be about soon - are you nervous?"

[lifeinhallways]

Hopefully, the girls approve of the new wee one.

"I can only say what I wish for her," which is everything ever, "She'll be her own person." And it's a gift she'll get to be there for it.

And there is only one answer to that question. "She's the most terrifying person I've ever met." Anything happening to Tamara is her second thought of every day. Her first is much happier.

[abadland4gods]

Mike is there, of course. He's mostly hovering by the door to make sure no intruders are coming in, but occasionally, he wanders back to Michelle, waves at the newborn (who, being a newborn, doesn't quite recognize anyone but the scent of her mother, but no matter), and so on, and so forth.

He's been made nervous by this return to the Mansion.

He doesn't like it: Shadow's used to good things turning sour, very quickly.

I'm tracking this post, so if anyone wants him to intervene in other subthreads, just mention his name (Shadow) and I'll tag him in. :-)

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle will give him a grin whenever he comes over. There is absolutely no way he hasn't spent a good portion of the baby's life holding her.

He may feel nervous, but because he's there, Michelle feels perfectly safe.

[abadland4gods]

"We shouldn't be here," he says finally, tensely. "I'd hate to have to deal with your brother again."

Who, Shadow believes, is the devil incarnate.

[lifeinhallways]

Mentioning her brother puts a damper on her elation. She'd thought the private room, the brief time from the announcement to the meeting, would be enough. If Jack's continuing to drink --

"I don't think he'd want to be here." She used to be much more sure, but Jack's a question to her, rather than a statement.

Time for one more bombshell, "But once this is over, I'm going to look for him."

[digging_giza]

We don't know if Jackson counts as a "friend" - so it may be happenstance that has him wander that way. He'll have to walk his way around the hulky retainer and show empty hands, and he might in fact just be trying to say hello from the other side that the living door that Mike can be sometimes.

"... Ms. Benjamin? It's me, Daniel Jackson! I'd like to present my respects?"

He's heard the baby - he's quite happy both are safe.

[lifeinhallways]

"Dr. Jackson?" Michelle's surprised to see him, considering their first meeting. It's because of him Michelle will stay up and watch Tamara sleep, afraid something may happen to her.

"She's here," as if it somehow proves him wrong. It's not Jackson she's angry with or afraid of, just of a future in a book she wants so desperately to be wrong.

[digging_giza]

"So I hear, and I'd like to offer my congratulations," he replies, and there is absolutely nothing sarcastic in his tone.

He did insist that the book could be wrong, or merely an alternate interpretation of events - he's glad that theory held: it's consistent with his cultural reading of Asgardian and Goa'uld influences on the growth of Tau'ri theology.

[lifeinhallways]

Jackson only added to the paranoia, rather than being responsible for it, so Michelle's happy to take the congratulations. "Then please come and meet her." It's important to her, that those who want to meet the baby, do. For all she wants to keep her safe, Michelle doesn't want her to ever feel isolated. No playing pretty princess for Tamara -- just lots of playing.

Also, "Have you met Mike?" Michelle's own tone says don't be afraid of her big teddy bear.

[homely_sonja]

Brienne will be immensely relieved to know Michelle is safe - she'll come by the lounge to welcome her, and to greet little Tamara, an awkward present in hand. She took a guess and made her a doll, but she also is showing up with a little wooden sword, which obviously will be for later. She probably had help making either of these two things.

"... My lady?"

[lifeinhallways]

"Brienne!" Michelle stands, still keeping a firm hold on Tamara. Still, Brienne's height makes her look tiny and one must wonder how Brienne sees the baby.

"Come meet my little princess! I'm excited to introduce you!"

She bounces the baby a little, "See, my love, this is Brienne. She's a very strong woman. You'd do well to know her."

[homely_sonja]

And Brienne, just as she did with Cairn, looks at the baby with no small amount of bemusement. How something so little can grow into someone like her is beyond her, and why any adult would speak to a baby like they're able to comprehend also befuddles her.

This is so beyond her, she don't even. There's a reason neither she nor Stark are ever considering parenting as a shared goal.

"Erhm, hello, little lady," she tells the baby. She frankly has no clue how to handle this. "...I've brought you a doll?" See, doll. Right there. In her hand. No clue what she's doing.

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle will also sing, read, and tell her stories, as if she understands. One day, Tamara will, but it's Michelle's own way of educating her baby. For now, it's more the tone of voice than the words themselves. How little she knows that the lack of baby-speak comes from her own mother.

"What a present! She doesn't have many toys yet." Michelle's own gratitude is clear, as is her trust in Brienne by the next question. "Would you like to hold Tamara?"

[sissy_queen]

Having received the note, Guinevere comes, with one knight at her side, for her own safety, but also so that Michelle will see that she would make good on her word.

Having passed the security, she will incline her head, and come to kiss Michelle's cheeks. "I rejoice to see you again," she says, "and that mother and child have found their way to us," she says sweetly.

She's got an other small present, one quite discreet, left on the table.

I have a mind that maybe she shows up with Parsifal? I'll poke Ref :-)

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle greets in kind, "I'm glad you've found your way to us." Michelle's missed the company of her friends in the mansion.

She nods to the knight, a grin in welcome.

The most important thing, "Tamara, how lucky you are! A queen has come to see you."

[sissy_queen]

Guinevere will come closer, to see the baby, and will make appropriate cooing sounds, though part of her is green with envy: she will never conceive, and is convinced of it, regardless of what the twins Lleu and Goewin told her, so many years ago.

Besides, to conceive, one must have a proper genitor, which she does not.

"Well met, O sweet one," she says to the baby. "My, an angel has come down, is that not so?"

Haven't heard back from Ref, so still dunno who the unidentified knight is - if all else fails, he'll be one of mine.

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle will make sure Tamara's easily seen, and thus, easily fussed over. She can't help but think Guinevere would make a kind mother.

"She is my angel. I can't believe she's as perfect," there's so much pride there, Michelle has to stop herself. "I'm sorry," her very standard response, "I didn't meant to sound so full of myself."

In Michelle's mind, perfect meant healthy with ten fingers and toes.