Counselling Talk

Posted on 07 Apr 2026 @ 2:59am by Lieutenant Lamia ‘Mia’ Kildare & Lieutenant Margeurite "Maggie" LeFebvre
Edited on on 07 Apr 2026 @ 11:53am

1,122 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Counseling Office/USS Tomcat
Timeline: Before the Birth of Lamia's Child

[ON]

Maggie stopped outside the Counseling office. She wasn't one to usually visit the Counselor-she was pretty much an open book about her feelings and such, and also...she hated it. She went for her annuals and then not again. Still. NOW she was faced with a problem she didn't know how to fix, and she wasn't able to talk to her mother about it. Not yet. So she rang the chime.

"Lieutenant Kildare?" She said, waiting for permission to enter.

Though Lamia was on maternity leave, she was still making herself available to patients if they needed her. Her sleeping newborn was not far away while Lamia sat resting with her feet up. “Come on in!”

Maggie paused for a moment. She wasn't used to this. Still. She moved her feet, one at a time. Once in the room, she plopped down into a seat. Normally, she moved with grace and purpose, meant to attract attention. Today? She wanted to be invisible. She already felt like people could TELL.

"I am pregnant, and I don't know what to do," she said. Maggie had never been one for small talk or bullshit.

Lamia didn’t look surprised; in all honesty, she’d sensed that familiar duality that pregnancy showed as to empaths. “I thought I sensed something familiar” she smiled warmly. “Pregnancy is a big step in itself, motherhood isn’t for everyone, but don’t go rushing into any big decisions. Why is it you don’t know what to do?”

"I never wanted children," Maggie said, frankly. "They are fine, in general, just not for me. BUT...I forgot about my shot this month, and apparently...Todd did, too."

Lamia nodded. “It happens. There are other choices if you decide to go through with your pregnancy; there’s always the option of giving up your child to a family less fortunate. You may find that you’d like to try parenthood later on down the line, but that’s your choice, not anyone else’s. Have you spoken to Todd about it? How does he feel?”

Maggie sighed. "Yeah. He said he supports whatever I decide," she said, sullenly. She wasn't exactly happy with that idea. She KNEW it was only her choice to make, but she wanted someone else to do it.

She sighed again. "I DO want a family...just...it's all so fast. We just recently got engaged; we've only dated for a bit. And besides...what if I get fat?"

Lamia smiled a wry smile. “I’m afraid weight gain is one of the things when you’re pregnant, Maggie, but everyone is different. Some women carry large items, and some are barely noticeable. You can work off any weight gain later on.” She paused to look across at her son as he stirred, but didn’t wake. “I always wanted children; the loss of my daughter made the birth of my son all the more special.”

Maggie nodded once. "My father died when I was ten," she said. "And my mother wasn't very good. A fine person, just very self-involved," she said. "Her brother, my Uncle, was my closest parental figure," she said. "And he was...I guess a lot like me. A Playboy took a lot of risks. He taught me to fly, though," she said. "He lives on Alpha Centauri now," she said. She should go see him. "He never married, nor had any children." Maggie paused. "I guess it was just never something in my life, so I never wanted it or missed it. I didn't have siblings, so I didn't know anything else."

Lamia nodded. “Not every woman wants a family; there are those who don’t plan on it who find they enjoy it. It all depends on what you want out of life in a way, only you truly know that. All I’ll say is don’t rush into any decisions you’re likely to regret.”

Maggie sighed. "It's not that I don't WANT it, I just...I don't feel ready. But I never feel ready for anything, so I guess no time is a GOOD time." She said. "I trust that Todd will be a good father. I do worry a bit about the long-ageing thing-he's EL Aurian, you know-and how that might affect a child in the long run," she said. "And also...I would only want this one. No more. I am focused on my career, but I think...we can love more than one thing at once."

Lamia smiled. “It’s a big change, trust me, I know!” She grinned. “But it’s also worth it, in the long run, it’s your decision. I always wanted to be a mother. Losing my daughter was devastating, but now I have my son; it’s nothing short of a miracle for me.”

Maggie smiled. "That's great," she said. "I just...I've never been responsible for anyone but myself before. I have no siblings so it was just my mother and me. I am not sure I know what to do."

“It’s a learning curve that’s for sure” Lamia smiled warmly. “I won’t lie and say it’s easy, but I will say it’s worth it. In the long run, the decision is yours. I’ll be here to support you no matter what decision you decide to make.”

Maggie nodded. She sat up straighter and smiled.

"Thank you. I appreciate that. Todd and I DO need to talk, but I think...we should keep the baby. I want to. I am just...neither of my parents was a good parent, and I worry I won't be, either. But Todd has been around a while, and we can take classes, right?" She was trying to convince herself, really.

“Sure!” Lamia nodded. “Just because your parents weren’t the best, it doesn’t mean you won’t be a good mother. It’s just a learning curve; you have plenty of us here to help you.”

Maggie smiled lightly and nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate that," she said. She stood. "Anyway. I appreciate your time. Thank you, you've helped me to see things more clearly. If it's ok, I will go now. I need to talk to Todd."

She was going to have her baby, and keep it, and she'd figure it out. She always did.

Lamia nodded. “Of course, Maggie, if Todd needs to talk, he knows where I am.”

[OFF]

 

RSS Feed