Chapter Nineteen;
Mother, I Just Can't Get Enough

Halfway through his evening shift, Spider ducked down to the galley to terrorise Bomber. When he got to the serving counter, however, he found the galley filled with children and Bomber in the centre of them making them laugh and dance along to one of her silly childhood songs. For a while Spider stood watching her, listening to a song about a wild kangaroo, until he was reminded of where he was by the appearance of Buffer.

"Watch her, I think she's getting maternal." The Bosun chuckled, glancing at Bomber. Spider's smile fell. Buffer just smacked him on the arm. "Don't worry mate, I'm sure the phase will pass."

As Buffer left Spider looked back at Bomber who was now entertaining Chloe Blake with a mitt puppet. The girl was spellbound by the creature. Ducking back behind the wall Spider frowned. Kids? He was only 24! With a glance back at Bomber he walked off. He needed to talk to his mother.

***

"Maybe you should talk to her." His mother smiled, folding a hoodie Spider recognised as belonging to Oscar Drake. "Tell her your impressions."

"Mum, this is Bec we're talking about. You have met her right?" Julie just laughed. "Mum! I'm serious."

"Alright sweetheart…" she touched her son's arm. "What do you want me to do?"

***

"Afternoon Rebecca." Julie smiled as she watched Bomber turn quickly, shocked by the appearance of Spider's mum.

"Oh, Mrs. Webb. Hi." Bomber turned her attention back to her cooking. Since joining the ship, Julie had been popping in on her at random times just to check things. How she cooked certain foods. How she did her washing. Her feelings on brushing your teeth too often. Once she'd even turned up when Bomber had come out of the shower, asking what type of soap she used. It was building up on Bomber so much that the mere sight of the woman now caused her to panic a little, her eyes darting the galley to see what her future mother-in-law could critique. Nav had commented only the day before that she was living every girl's stereotypical nightmare – a fact she didn't understand since ET's mum was pretty cool. Bomber cursed her lucky best friend and assessed the galley again.

'Okay, what's she checking now? My stance on bin disposal bags?' But rather than say that aloud, Bomber just smiled up at Julie Webb. "Dinner will be ready in about 35 minutes."

"It's okay sweetheart, I'm not here to check on your cooking." Bomber frowned. Great, her cooking was the one thing she was sure she was safe with. 'Alas, it is the bags'. "I just came to have a chat. We haven't had a real chance to talk since I joined."

Bomber fought the urge to point out Julie had done a lot of talking 'at' her, but just smiled back. "I'd love to but I'm a bit busy now."

Julie nodded. "I know." She came into the galley anyway and stood there, watching her cook. Bomber frowned back at her dinner. Unlike the proverbial watched pot, Bomber knew with enough of this she was going to boil.

***

For the rest of that night and everywhere the next morning, every time Bomber turned around Mrs. Webb was there. She was there when she came out of her cabin, when she manned the EOD, when she attempted to catch a break in the Mess and even before she went to a bed – a time when she usually snuck into Spider's cabin just to taunt him. She didn't dare do it that night, instead shutting herself in her cabin and pulling the blanket over her head, praying the woman would be gone the next morning. But no such luck, she was still there.

By midday Bomber had had enough. She feigned an illness, blew off ET's hand-wrapping duties, and retired to her cabin.

Julie Webb, meanwhile, rounded up her son for a report. "Talk to her."

Spider looked scared. "Why? Am I right?"

"No, you're not. From what I can see Rebecca is a good aunty and a good friend. She looks after the kids because she cares about their parents." She sighed. "But, if you send me after her one more time she is either going to kill me or drown herself in that chicken soup of hers. You know, the one she doesn't put enough stock in." Spider rolled his eyes. "She doesn't."

"I wish you'd lay off her cooking, she's a great chef."

Julie touched his cheek. "About time too." Spider looked confused but she just turned him away. "Go find her and tell her that you sent me after her. Now." Spider moped. "You get that stubborn procrastination from your father, not me." She literally pushed him from the cabin. "Now William!" With his mother's 'you're in trouble' tone, Spider left.

***

After a long search of the Hammersley Spider finally found Bomber perched on the bench of the galley munching on a bowl of cereal. She looked up as he entered and glanced at him over it, the spoon suspended in mid-air near her mouth. "Yes?" She growled.

Spider frowned. "It's 1500, why are you eating?"

Bomber put down the bowl. "Little fact you should know about me." She jumped off the bench and returned to the washing up she'd been doing before she started to eat. "I eat when I'm insecure."

"You're insecure? About what?"

"The overgrown blowfly in my ear every second minute." She glanced around as if worried the woman may appear at the serving counter. "Is your mother everywhere?" She whispered.

"Oh." Spider looked away. "I'm sorry about her."

Bomber sighed. "It's not your fault." She tipped the rest of the cereal down the sink and started washing the bowl. "It's just, we're all under enough pressure as it is and she's driving me insane. I just…" she turned and looked at him, tears evident in her eyes. "I just need a break is all."

Spider came to her and hugged her, kissing her head. "I'm sorry babe." Glancing up at the door he saw his mother standing there. He shook his head at her, mouthing 'okay'. With a smile Julie left them alone.