Chapter Text
Rocky kept analyzing the images appearing on his special screen. It seems both of us were equally amazed by the discovery of another alien life form. My eyes kept looking at thousands of little organisms swimming under the microscope. This filled me with excitement, somehow — unusually high excitement. Yes, alien life was an extremely fascinating and exciting thing for me — but what I felt didn't seem to come from that. I took my eyes off the microscope and leaned back, letting that pleasant feeling carry me deeper into my mind.
《●》
The lab was quiet today. If not for a few scientists chatting on the other end of the hangar, I would have felt like Kevin being left alone on Christmas. But in a way, exactly that was happening — the project was nearing its completion, we already did most of the work during our sea travels and it was time to move our operations on land. Many scientists and engineers were already moved to the Russian space base chosen for the launch.
To my surprise, Stratt stayed behind on the ship. It seemed weird to me— she's always first to witness any major breakthroughs in the project. Ah, but maybe that's the thing — it wasn't really a "breakthrough" that was happening — people were simply putting each and every element together, like a Lego set — they have the instructions, no need to involve the director herself. She told me that she will travel to the site after our aircraft carrier stops closer to the land for its much needed maintenance.
I let my glasses slide off my nose.
When I first met Eva she really didn't care that much about her own wellbeing. Three hours of sleep followed by two large coffees was her usual routine — I rarely saw her eat more than a single protein bar when the work started getting beyond intense.
I scratched my chin.
Which is why her current behavior seems so odd to me, especially her morning routine — she never leaves her room before 8 in the morning, sometimes it takes her even longer to finally grace the crew with her presence. Then comes the strangest part — she eats breakfast, an actual nutritious meal, not just a large americano followed by whatever she could gobble up the fastest. The same goes for dinner and supper.
I used to tell her to take better care of herself, but my comments were often met with "You should focus on yourself." or "Says equally sleep deprived scientists."
I sighed and spun in my chair.
I just realized there wasn't a need for me to be at my station at all. My eyes dropped to look at my wristwatch — 7 in the morning... it was early — I couldn't sleep at all tonight, so I started work earlier to keep myself occupied.
Stratt is probably still sleeping comfortably in her own cabin.
I shrugged. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to pay her a visit before she inevitably gets swooped in for another meeting.
I could even bring her breakfast if she so desires.
I got up from my chair and changed my mind about the whole breakfast thing. Yes, I would love to bring her something — however, Stratt appears to be... picky about what she eats as of recently — and picky not in the "I don't eat certain things" but in "My preferences change every day." Yesterday I saw her digging meticulously in her sandwich and getting rid of all the olives, avoiding them as if they were poisonous. While at the beginning of the week she was completely fine with eating salad filled with them.
Maybe I'm reading into this too much. People can change their lifestyles if they're determined enough, right? It could be because her body finally gave her warning signs that it no longer wanted to live off of caffeine and scraps.
My hand opened the doors leading to the hall we used to move between labs and the communal deck.
Our relationship was kept in private, or at least, that's what Stratt ordered me (and simultaneously herself) to do. What I could do around people was limited to bringing her a coffee, smiling, and looking at her from the other side of the room.
The situation was much different after hours. I was her safe space and she was mine — in the evening we could momentarily pretend that the sun wasn't dying and do what most of the lovebirds do. My hand would run through her hair as she was cuddling near my chest — I would tell her all sorts of things I would like to do with her if we weren't stuck on this ship, until her eyes shut close and she would finally fall asleep.
I suppose everyone suspected that something was going on between us. It wasn't hard to connect the dots — after all, I happened to smell like her perfumes a couple of times.
Despite a few mishaps on my side, we did manage to pretend that we were simply two colleagues getting along with each other.
I made my way up the staircase. I think all this movement helped my brain process the information a bit faster.
"Lovebirds..." I thought to myself. We weren't necessarily in our most hormone-buzzing years anymore — but did that stop us from getting close on a couple of occasions?
My foot missed a step.
"Right... there were a few occasions." I traced back all of those pleasant moments in my head. "Almost a year and a half on this ship... huh?"
Now, I'm a scientist — jumping into conclusions is my fatal flaw. But... Could she, by any chance, be pregnant — right now? I felt my face flush as I welcomed this thought in my brain.
I stopped in my tracks and looked at my hands to do some quick math. Well, it's not a stretch, really... But if that's the case, why didn't she tell me anything yet? Maybe she expects me to ask her? Was I supposed to point out her strange behaviors? — Was that a test and I failed?
There's only one way to find out and all that's stopping me are the doors to her cabin. I don't need to bother with knocking — Stratt gave me a spare key — she backed this decision with a clever argument that if she hears someone enter her room without knocking, she would quickly notice that it's me who's about to bother her — with knocking... well... that could be anyone.
I turn the key gently, making as little noise as I can — I'm aware that the doors themselves will make a sharp, metallic sound when I push them forward — but maybe if I try to do it slowly they won't screech that much.
"Good morning, Eva," I picked into the room "am I interrupting?"
I definitely... definitely was interrupting.
Stratt was standing in front of a mirror secured on the wall facing the doors. She immediately saw my reflection appear in the mirror and quickly covered herself with my fox cardigan. I must have left it in her room by accident.
"You said I didn't need to knock..." I feel my glasses slide from my nose.
"Exactly, yes — I did say so." I could hear a slight annoyance rising in her voice. "Is there something critical you want to talk about?"
I closed the door behind me. "I... wouldn't necessarily say it's a critical matter, rather..." My hands slide into my pockets. "More of a...hypothetical question?"
Stratt raised her eyebrow.
"Maybe no... I don't want to start with this. How about — did you sleep well?" I sat down on the edge of the bed.
"No." Her answer was short.
"Oh..."
"Doctor Grace, this really isn't a good moment for a morning chit chat," Eva sat down on a chair next to a small desk and hid her face in her hand. "I need to get ready for work. If you have something to say, I suggest using your words."
"Are you feeling well... as of recently?"
"Be more precise." She sighed.
Stratt was playing with me. She knew what I meant, probably, but she wanted to hear me say it directly. Why was it so hard? That word was stuck at the very end of my throat.
"Look. You've been acting strange lately. You changed your whole routine, you're trying to be more healthy...You seem to be constantly exhausted, even though you're sleeping more than ever," I started counting "worst of all, you became a bit more distant."
"Too many words." I could have sworn I heard a chuckle coming from her.
I stood up and sighed. My hand met together in a small clap as I came closer to face Stratt.
"Are you pregnant?" There, I said it. If she's not, then I've just made a huge clown out of myself.
She nodded. There it was! My answer.
"Was it really that hard to say?" She answered
"Then why didn't you tell me anything?" There were many emotions spinning around in my head. "You should have told me! All this time I could have been helping you—"
"Grace." She stood up and passed me on her way to a small wardrobe. "This is exactly the reason why I remained quiet," she took out a gray turtleneck, "I need you to remain focused on the project. We have a month left until launch. After that I can permit you to start worrying about another thing."
"But—"
"We're getting off this ship in less than two days," she threw my cardigan towards me, "You will have plenty of critical jobs to do and I cannot risk you being distracted,” she quickly put on the turtleneck, "I don't need you running around me like a nurse. I need the world's leading authority on astrophage to be the world's leading authority on astrophage, okay?"
I folded the piece of clothing that was thrown into my hands. I should have expected that Stratt wanted my utmost attention directed towards the project.
I didn't want to bother her with more questions— but man, I was excited! I'm just a human! If there's good news, I want to hear all about it!
"Which... umm— which month is it? Am I allowed to know at least that?" I scratched the back of my head.
She grabbed her hairbrush. "The beginning of the third one."
"Third?!" I thought to myself. I understand being quiet for a month, maybe a month and a half. But three? Now I feel bad for noticing the changes only as of recent.
I looked to the side. "Can I see?"
"There's not much to see yet. You know that."
"I promise that I won't bring this up and... I will try to ignore it until Hail Mary launches." My glasses were now hanging under my chin. Stratt ran her brush through her hair a couple of times and put it to the side. "Just let me be excited for a second!"
An audible sigh left her mouth, followed by a subtle smile.
I loved the way she smiles.
"And you will keep your promise, doctor Grace?" She came closer. Her hands grabbed my glasses and repositioned them back on my nose.
"I probably won't..." I thought.
"I will try my best." I said.
Stratt rolled up the bottom of her sweater. My hand landed on her exposed skin without much hesitation. She wasn't lying — there wasn't much to see or feel yet, just a slightly rounder belly— but I wasn't disappointed, far from it. I was beyond happy.
"Calm your excitement, doctor Grace."
"Easier said than done..."
"You've made a promise."
"It comes into effect after I leave your cabin." I smiled, enjoying a moment of peace.
[○]
"I think I'm a dad!" I looked towards Rocky with a gaping mouth.
"Right now, question!?" He raised the pitch of his voice. "Grace made offspring now, question? Please warn Rocky about such things!"