New Face

Date/Timing: 9 December 2020
Setting: CDL, LA Shatterdome; Terminal Island, CA, United States
.
At naptime, Ms Kelsie beckons Pietr aside.
He kisses Aaliyah's crown—
She yawns enormously—
—eases her from his arms into a bassinet—
—sighs happily.
—tiptoes from the baby room.
"We've got a new baby!" says Ms Kelsie, eyes dancing.
Pietr bounces on his toes.
"His moms are a little nervous about leaving him—he's their first and it's first time they'll be separated from him—and we're thinking having our very own 'baby whisperer' on hand might help."
Pietr salutes, beaming.
"C'mon, then," she laughs.
He floats along behind her to the reception area, to where Mrs Kristal talks with two people.
A scrunched, red, teeny baby snug against one of their chests waves pudgy arms angrily.
Pietr glows at the baby.
Baby wails.
Pietr smiles as warmly as he can.
Baby hiccups.
Pietr makes a face.
Baby stares.
Pietr tries a different face.
Baby blows bubbles, then grins hugely.
Pietr melts.
A tap on his arm.
He attends Mrs Kristal.
"Pietr, meet Rachel and Amber, both she-her-hers, and the bundle of joy is Sean, he-him-his for now."
Pietr bows.
Amber bows.
Rachel, holding Sean close, bobs her head.
"He's one of our volunteers and the absolute /best at keeping babies happy," says Mrs Kristal.
Pietr ducks his head.
"Little Sean will be in good hands with him."
Amber looks skeptical.
Rachel snuffles.
Sean scrunches again.
Pietr reaches—queries—
Rachel nods minutely.
—wiggles the tip of Sean's ear.
Sean giggles.
Amber relaxes.
Rachel takes a deep, shaky breath, offers—
Pietr accepts the wiggly bundle of Sean and cradles him against his shoulder.
Sean vibrates happily.
—wraps her arms around herself.
Pietr smiles reassuringly to her.
Rachel wibbles and Amber hugs her, reassures, "We'll visit him at lunchtime, sweetie."
Rachel nods miserably.
Pietr bounces Sean, nuzzles fuzzy hair which might be red someday.
Sean drools enthusiastically.
The moms plod from the daycare.
Ms Kelsie catches Pietr's eye. "You'll take it from here?"
Pietr thumbs up.
Sean gurgles, thumps a fist against Pietr's collarbone.
Pietr kisses his crown, sets out on a lap of the reception area, Sean pressed close.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:LA Shatterdome (setting)
Category:CDL (setting)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr's POV
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Kelsie
Category:Kelsie (ficlet)
Category:Aaliyah
Category:Aaliyah (ficlet)
Category:Kristal
Category:Kristal (ficlet)
Category:Sean
Category:Sean (ficlet)
Category:Rachel
Category:Rachel (ficlet)
Category:Amber
Category:Amber (ficlet)