Who: Nina and Elphaba When: Before Christmas Where: Hospital What: Stopping by Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Nina had to admit she was glad she had a good amount of time off over Christmas, she loved her job but it was lovely to know she wouldn't have to do the Christmas Day or New Year shifts.
Today she was helping out with outpatient appointments and was sat at the nurses station filling out some paperwork.
Elphaba and Mae had just finished an appointment with the OB department to check up on Mae’s progress. She was still a little underweight but as Elphie was going to start weaning Mae about February time they weren't too concerned. Elphie, of course, was but she always was so nothing much different there.
Asking one of the nurses where Nina was, Elphaba headed down to find her friend and give her a Christmas card and present. Smiling at Nina as she approached the counter Elphaba said “Hey you, how are you?”
“Hey” Nina said with a smile, moving from behind the desk to give her friend a hug and brush her fingers over the baby’s hair.
“I'm sorry I wasn't in OB today. I got called in to cover here, did your appointment go alright? You certainly look good don't you sweetheart” she added to the baby.
“Oh that’s ok,” Elphaba smiled, lifting the carrier with the baby in it so that Nina could have a better view of the baby. “We just had a little check up, everything’s ok, but she’s a little underweight still. Dr Cassian says it’s not unusual for premature babies so I shouldn’t worry, but...well, you know me,” she shrugged and gave a little smile as she placed the carrier on the counter.
“I know. You’ll worry anyway” Nina nodded, “I’ll come around between Christmas and New Year if that’s okay? Just to make sure you aren’t stressing yourself out too much” She was concerned that Elphaba would worry herself too much.
“That would be lovely, I can make us all dinner. When would you like to come over?” Elphaba smiled. “I need to do some research into foods I can eat that might help Mae put some fat on. The internet is a goldmine of information, I don’t know how mothers got by without it,” she joked, stroking her fingers over Mae’s brow and pushing some hair away from the baby’s eyes.
“Honestly they got along much better in my opinion” Nina told her friend, “The Internet can be a dangerous thing, there’s far too much conflicting information on there. If you want to you can find a study from a random university to backup anything you want. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to lecture you it’s just I’ve heard so many crazy things from new mothers because they read it on the internet” she sighed with a wry smile.
Elphaba ducked her chin a little at Nina’s words. She had thought she was being careful and studious as a mother. Had she been doing the wrong thing all this time? She cast a worried look at Mae as she slotted the handle back against the carrier. “Sorry,” she murmured.
“Oh please don’t apologise” Nina said, laying her hand on Elphaba’s arm, “Just trust your own instincts a little more. She’s healthy and happy and that is down to you, just you, not studies you read on the internet or because of what other mothers who think they know it all say. Just be you and I am positive everything will be wonderful”
Elphaba nodded in response, still keeping her eyes down. “I just uh...I didn’t have great role models growing up and I don’t want to keep bugging Luthien with questions. I don’t want her to think I’m more incompetent than I actually am with all my questioning. I’m always doubting myself when it comes to the baby,” Elphaba told Nina quietly, looking back at the baby sadly. “The internet seemed a sensible place to go,” she shrugged.
“Nobody is going to think you’re incompetent for asking questions” Nina assured her, “It’s natural to ask, you’re a new mum and I promise you that you are doing wonderfully. We just need to work on your confidence” she said moving to wrap an arm around her friends shoulders, “The internet can be great don’t get me wrong but use reputable websites, not links from other mums because all they’ll be looking for is things to prove themselves right. Not necessarily what is best for the baby”
Elphaba nodded and tried to smile at Nina. “It gets easier, right?” she asked with a little watery laugh. Sniffling a little, she shuffled her handbag around to her front and reached in, shuffling about until she found Nina’s present and card hidden under some clean, spare nappies. “I have a little something for you, a thank you for being such a great friend and support for me. Happy Christmas,” she said, pulling them out of her bag and handing them over with a smile.
“It definitely gets easier” Nina promised, “And until then I’m here and I know Luthien is too” When Elphie handed her a gift she smiled, “Oh, thank you. You didn’t need to get me anything. I’ve got a little something for the little one too but it’s at home” she admitted.
“You’re more than welcome, it’s the least I could do,” Elphaba told her. “It’s not much, just a little token of my appreciation,” she shrugged. “That’s ok, we’ll just have to meet up again. Have you got anything planned for Christmas or New Year?” she asked.
“I think we’re spending Christmas with Merlin and Audrey and the kids and Gabe is planning something for New Year but between the two we should meet up” Nina suggested with a smile.
“That would be great, let me know when you’d like to come over and I’ll cook something up for us,” Elphaba smiled at her, before catching sight of the wall clock behind Nina. “I’d love to stay but we’re meeting Luthien for lunch. I hope you like your present and message me about meeting up, ok?” she said, picking Mae’s carrier off the counter and giving Nina a one armed hug.
“I will and thank you so much Elphie. Remember, you’re a great mum. Have a little more faith in yourself” Nina smiled returning the hug and brushing a soft finger down Mae’s cheek before she let her friend go, “Say Hi to Luthien for me”