Chapter 5
"So what'd you end up getting Mom?" Val says gesturing to the bag in Brooklyn's arms as they stand by waiting for the elevator to arrive.
"Just some cheesy knick knacks." She says as she presses on the elevator button a couple more times.
The light Cruiser's eyes were fixed on the Elevator Floor readout as her foot tapped in rapid fashion.
"I've only seen you like this once before." Val says as she observes the Light Cruiser.
"Like what?" Brooklyn replies, turning to face Val, her foot still tapping in place.
"I dunno, nervous?" She says laughing slightly, "You were like this when I first introduced you to mom as my girlfriend."
"Was I really?" Brooklyn says forcing her foot to stop and taking a deep breath.
"Yeah, you were."
Val reaches out for Brooklyn's hand, taking it in her own. She gives it a little squeeze, receiving one back in return.
Taking in another deep breath, Brooklyn exhales softly, the tension in her grip loosening.
The ding from the elevator doors snaps them back, as they let go of each other's hand, moving aside to let the people through.
Settling into the elevator, Brooklyn retakes Vals hand, the tension in her grip rising with the platform.
"Relax, it's just my Mom," Val says, squeezing Brooklyn's hand again.
"Superior officers and bureaucrats are one thing, but dealing with parental figures is still very new to me."
Val can only grip her hand in somber silence as she comes to the realization Ships don't really have parents.
Would the people who built her be considered her mother? Or perhaps the ones who drew up her blueprints, the father? Maybe it's the scientists who made them into the persons they are today. Too many questions swirled around in Val's head, ones probably not suited for elevator conversation. The jolt of the elevator signaled the arrival of their floor.
Fumbling with her keys, Val arrives at her apartment door, Brooklyn behind her taking in another deep breath.
Pushing open the door, a delicious smell of freshly cooked food enters her nose.
"Mom, I'm home!" she announces pulling Brooklyn inside after her, "and I brought Brooklyn with me!"
"Dios mío Valentina," she shouts from the kitchen, "You should've told me."
Walking out of the kitchen in an apron Val's mother stops in front of the pair in the middle of the hallway.
"I would've made more,"
"Oh, it's fine Mom," Val says as she kisses her on her cheek.
"I wouldn't want to impose anyhow." Brooklyn says as she hold up the bag she brought, "but these are for you Mrs. Hermosa"
"Oh my, Thank you"
Taking the bag from her hand, Mama Hermosa 's bright smile dimmed just a little as she looked at the fidgety Light Cruiser.
"Brooklyn," she says, her tone slightly sullen.
Immediately tensing at the way her name was said, she became a little rigid as she forgot how to breathe for a second.
Had she done something wrong? Was it something she said? Maybe she didn't appreciate the gift or perhaps she was imposing?
"I thought I told you, you can call me Mom."
"Sorry, Mrs.." Brooklyn stops, trying to form a word so foriegn to her.
"M...Mom," Brooklyn couldn't quite figure out why, but she was a little embarrassed to say it. As she did though, all the tension left her body as a warmth flooded her chest.
Before she could say anything else, Brooklyn was enveloped in a warm embrace.
She has hugged her sisters and her friends many times, shared multiple embraces with Val, and even the Commander many times in the past, but none felt the same as this.
"My home is your home my daughter," She says as she gently strokes the Light Cruiser's hair.
'Daughter' it felt so comforting to be called that, Brooklyn thought as she returned the hug.
"You are welcome here anytime"
It was probably a good thing she let out so many tears earlier with Essex and them as she pressed back any more trying to form in her eyes.
Val looked on, a huge smile on her face. She knew Brooklyn had nothing to be so anxious about and watching her reactions just gave Val food for her soul.
"Mom!" a voice calls from further in the apartment, "is the food ready?!"
Bursting out of his room, still in his boxers with a gaming controller in hand and a headset around his neck, he skids into view.
"Really, Jules?" Val says to her brother as he rounds the corner.
"Val, you're home!" he says as he jumps back a bit.
"Hi, Jules." Brooklyn greets as she steps out from behind Mama Hermosa.
"B...Brooklyn's here too?!" he says startled, blushing at his underdressed and disheveled state.
"You would've heard me if you weren't wearing that headset all day." Val says as she chases her brother out of the hallway.
"And go get dressed, it's afternoon already!" She shouts as he slams the door to his room.
"Sorry about my brother..." Val says as she comes back around the corner. "All he does is play video games all day when he's not at school."
"It's alright, he's a growing boy." Brooklyn says as she takes off her boots.
"He's turning 17 and he hasn't even brought a girl home once yet." Mama Hermosa says concerned about his future.
"He's still young," Brooklyn replies, her thoughts on how the Commander was like when he was younger comes to her mind. "And not being so focused on chasing girls might be a good thing."
"Ha!" Mama Hermosa let out a laugh as she turned to walk towards the kitchen. "The one chasing after girls was always Valentina anyway."
Brooklyn narrows her eyes at her fiance,
"But not any more I hope."
"N...No!" Val defends, "I only have eyes for you!"
"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes upon." She adds
"Oh~" Brooklyn responds, "If you meet someone more beautiful, you'll leave me for her?"
"If that's truly the case," the Light Cruiser continues to tease, "maybe I shouldn't bring you to the joint base after all."
Though she was joking, Brooklyn was worried, even only slightly, as she recalls all the other shipgirls who inhabit the Joint Base.
"Wa...wait! I didn't mean it like that!"
"I know," Brooklyn says before kissing her on her cheek as she walks further into the apartment.
Unpacking the stuff inside the bag, Mama Hermosa coo's at a set of new ornate silverware.
"Aww, Brooklyn these are too nice." She says as she holds up a fork, observing its little details, "I'll wash these up and we can use them right away."
"I can help" Brooklyn offers, picking up a few spoons to take to the sink.
"No," Mama Hermosa slapping the top of the Light Cruiser's hand before they can even leave the box, "Go have a seat and settle in with Val."
"Go on, go" Mama Hermosa says as she shoos the shipgirl out of the kitchen. "Take a seat and relax, I'll have the food out soon."
Stumbling out of the kitchen looking a little distraught, Brooklyn makes her way into the dining room.
Val laughs as the Light Cruiser takes a seat across from her at the diner table.
"Mom kicked you out of the kitchen huh?"
"I just wanted to help."
"Don't worry about it, she does it to me and Maria all the time"
"Speaking of Maria," Brooklyn says looking around the room, "is she not home?"
"She should be getting home from class soon."
"Oh, she takes classes on the weekends?"
"Yeah, she's been trying real hard to get into the nursing program."
"That's very admirable of her."
"You should introduce her to Vestal!"
"There's a few more Shipgirls I have in mind too that can teach her a thing or two," Brooklyn adds, "Though none are at this base."
"At the Joint base I'm guessing?" Val assumes, "Just how many of you guys are over there anyway?"
Brooklyn thinks for a second, the exact number she doesn't know, "Probably a few hundred or so?"
"That many?" Jules exclaims as he takes a seat next to Brooklyn at the table.
"Sorry for surprising you earlier," She says to the teenager next to her, "but yeah, a good majority of us are stationed there, and not only us Eagle Union or Royal Navy, but a sizable Iron Blood and Sakura Empire force as well."
"That's pretty lit actually."
"Jules, fix your hair, it's a mess." Val says as she kicks his shin underneath the table.
"Damn sis, that hurt" he says, rubbing his leg.
"I got it," Brooklyn says as she leaves towards the bathroom.
"Wait, Brooklyn!" Val tries to protest, but the Light Cruiser was already walking back with a brush in hand.
Jules squirms a bit as Brooklyn brings the brush across his skull. Each pass makes him more relaxed.
"You're spoiling him..." Val says disapprovingly.
"Sorry," Brooklyn says as she continues to brush Jules' hair, "it's been a while since I've doted on a younger sibling."
Drawing his shoulder length hair back, Brooklyn ties it to the top of his head.
"And I've never had a brother before," she says as she pats him on his shoulders.
"So Shipgirls really are all girls, huh?" He asks looking up at Brooklyn behind him.
"They're called Shipgirls for a reason, idiot." Val points out.
"I've never really given it too much thought really." Brooklyn says as she thinks a little on it. "There are ships named after men, but even they came back into this world as women."
Holding up a couple of fingers she lists off a couple off the top of her head.
"There's Jean Bart, the whole King George V class..."
"Aren't most of the little Destroyer girls too?" Val pipes in.
"Yeah, actually. At least when it comes to the Eagle Union." Brooklyn acknowledges, "I'm a little surprised you knew that."
"Hey, give me a little credit." Val cries out, "My future wife is an actual Shipgirl so I have to know a thing or two about them."
The smell of food grew stronger as Mama Hermosa finally brings the dishes to the table.
Brooklyn's mouth waters at the sight of the steaming golden rice and beans. The aroma of the freshly baked chicken wafts into her nose as Mama Hermosa pulls the cover off the pan.
Sitting back down she takes Jules hand next to her as they bow their heads and close their eyes.
"Brooklyn," Mama Hermosa calls from the head of the table. "Would you like to say grace?"
Opening her eyes she looks up, surprised by the sudden request. She was sorta used to the process by now, but it was Mama Hermosa who always said grace before each meal the Light Cruiser was over for.
"..." Brooklyn opened her mouth, but no words came out. Even with her own sisters and every Shipgirl she knew, Brooklyn couldn't recall any time grace was ever said, especially in the organized chaos that was their mess halls.
It was only back when she was still just a ship, the echoes of her crewmen reverberating through her hull, the prayers said before each tour engrained in her steel.
But now, Brooklyn can't seem to recall what was said by her old crewmen.
"If you don't know what to say, Mama Hermosa speaks up, like she was reading her mind, "Just thank the Lord for what you're grateful for."
'What she was grateful for...' The Light Cruiser thinks to herself.
Glancing at her fiance across from her at the table, she can see Val trying to hide a smirk as she keeps her head down waiting for the Light Cruiser's prayer.
The warmth of Jules's hand reminds her of her sisters and the times she used to spend with them when they were all still together. The scent of the freshly made food laid out in front of her and the presence of her new family around her fills her chest with warmth.
Closing her eyes once again, Brooklyn opens her mouth to speak.
"Thank you Lord, for the food we are about to eat, thank you for all you have given me," the Light Cruiser didn't exactly believe in God or any religion, so a prayer leaving her own lips made her feel a little disingenuous, but she continues.
"Thank you for letting me be able to meet such an amazing woman and having her in my life." Saying out loud, what she was grateful for, felt as if a weight was being lifted off her heart.
Though thinking about what else to say, made Brooklyn realize there's a lot she took for granted. Like her own sisters and her relationship with them now as opposed to her past life which was spent mostly apart. Even when given a chance to act like a family she let it slip past her fingers not even realizing what she had in the first place.
A soft gentle squeeze on her shoulders makes the Light Cruiser peek upward. Standing behind her, quietly urging her to continue, was Maria who had silently snuck in.
The warmth of Jules's hand that Brooklyn held in her own and the light pressure resting on her shoulders, truly did remind her just how much she missed her own sisters.
"Thank you, for my wonderful little sisters," Brooklyn continues as she places her other hand atop Maria's still resting on her shoulder, "both the ones I already have and the new ones I'm about to gain."
"Thank you for letting me be a part of this family." Brooklyn hung on the word for a second. Her sisters may be her only direct family, but to her, she could consider everyone in the Eagle Union to be such.
The thought of even being able to think these thoughts at all was nothing short of a miracle. Just over a century ago she and every other Shipgirl only existed as nothing more than iron and steel, whose "souls" were forged through the fires of war. Though some still bear the weight of that conflict, all Shipgirls, including herself, try their best every day to make the most of this new opportunity to its fullest.
"Thank you, for my friends, my allies," Brooklyn continues, "and for helping us come together after years of conflict."
"And from the bottom of my soul, thank you for allowing us another chance on life." Through better or worse, Brooklyn thinks, each Shipgirl was blessed with freewill. In some cases it resulted in more conflict, but that same freewill let us realize the error of our mistakes and to better ourselves not in spite of, but for one another.
"Not only as tools for humanity, but to truly be part of it, to be able to breathe, to laugh, and to cry, thank you for it all."
Quiet sniffles from around her informed Brooklyn that maybe she went a bit overboard, but given how light her chest was feeling made it worth it. And with a light chuckle, she ends her prayer.
"Amen"
"Amen" follows everyone at the table.
Opening her eyes she's greeted with warm smiles from all around her.
"Brooklyn!~" cried Maria as she wrapped her arms around the Light Cruiser's neck from behind.
Val watches amused, wiping away a tear that had formed in her eye,suppressing a want to ask her sister when she had even got here.
"Maria!" Mama Hermosa yells from the head of the table, "leave Brooklyn alone and sit down."
Sitting down next to the Light Cruiser, Maria still clung to Brooklyn's arm.
"My sister doesn't deserve someone like you." The little sister said, sticking her tongue out at Val.
"I heard you're trying to get into the Nursing Program." Brooklyn says, passing the plate of rice over to Maria.
"Yeah, it's a pain in the ass." Maria groans, "but I'm pretty sure I've got a good shot."
"I know a Shipgirl I could introduce to you that could teach you a thing or two."
Maria's eyes light up, "Really!?"
"Hopefully soon, she's stationed at another base at the moment."
"Oh, you missed it," Val says to Maria, "Brook called Mom Mom for the first time."
"She did?!" She exclaimed, "do it again!"
Looking over to the head of the table, Brooklyn sees Mama Hermosa waiting expectantly to be addressed.
Being put on the spot yet again should be nothing new for the Light Cruiser but the word still had trouble forming in her mouth.
"M…"
"It's that hard huh?" Val says watching her fiance struggle with the word.
"No," Brooklyn tries to defend, "it's just I've never had to call anyone that before."
"Just think of her as your Mothership or something, I dunno."
"Mothership!? I'm a ship, not some kind of dinghy!" Brooklyn shouted back with a puff in her cheek
"Well," Mama Hermosa says, putting down her fork and knife, "you're my dinghy now."
Brooklyn snapped her neck towards the head of the table, her face matching the tomato sauce that covered the chicken.
As their plates emptied and their stomachs filled Val and her siblings still sat around the table, their attention on the TV in the living room.
"Here, let me get those for you." Brooklyn says bringing the dirty plates to the sink.
Turning the knob on the kitchen faucet the Light Cruiser begins to scrub at the plates.
Sliding in next to the blonde, Mama Hermosa grabs a few utensils to wash as well. Gliding a knife underneath the faucet she rinses away the soap, leaving the metal shiny and gleaming.
"These new silverware are absolutely gorgeous," she says holding up the knife in the light, eying all the little details engraved on the handle, "Thank you again Brooklyn."
"I'm glad you like them, I had help from a friend picking them out earlier." Brooklyn referring to Shangri-La, "she's got a really great eye for things like this."
"One of your Shipgirl friends I take it?" Mama Hermosa says cleaning another pair of utensils, "tell her I said thank you as well."
"I will, hopefully I can introduce you to her soon."
"Speaking of introducing," Mama Hermosa says looking over to the Light Cruiser, "I really want to meet those sisters of yours."
"You speak so highly of them, and I really want to than…" she stops herself, looking back to where Val and her siblings still sat. "...thank them for their service."
Brooklyn laughs as she places another plate on the drying rack.
"They'd appreciate it I'm sure."
"You said before they're all stationed at other bases?"
"Yeah," Brooklyn nods, her smile fading just a little. "Phoenix and Boise are down in South America and Honolulu, St. Louis, and Helena are all at the Joint base in the Pacific."
"So far away…" Mama Hermosa says, sneaking a glance at the Light Cruiser, taking note of the slight somber look on her face as she continued to scrub away at a plate.
"When was the last time you saw your sisters?"
Brooklyn had to think for a moment, it really had been too long she almost forgot exactly how long.
"Almost six years now…"
"Do you miss them?"
The Light Cruiser's hands stopped moving for a second as her shoulders drooped ever so slightly.
"M...Mom, I actually have something to ask you."
"What is it, my dinghy?"
Drying her hands she looks over to where her fiance is sitting.
"It has to do with Val actually. I still haven't told my sisters about her yet."
"That you're engaged?"
"That I'm even seeing her…" Brooklyn says with a nervous laugh. "So~ I was thinking about introducing them."
"I was wondering about the gifts, you want me to let her go with you overseas."
"I know it's still dangerous, but…"
"Valentina is old enough that it won't matter if I want her to or not," Mama Hermosa dries off her own hands before shutting the faucet.
"I promise, I will not let anything happen to her." Brooklyn says standing at attention like she was speaking to the Commander.
"I don't doubt it for a second." She says placing her arms around the Light Cruiser, "you have my blessings."
"Thank you" Brooklyn releasing her breath she didn't even realize she was holding.
"I had already mentally prepared myself for this y'know" Mama Hermosa says as she breaks off her hug.
"The moment she told me she was going to marry a Shipgirl, I knew this day would come."
Leaving the kitchen, Brooklyn goes over to where Val sat in the living room. A loud ad plays on the TV, catching the Light Cruiser's eye.
"It's numbah one!" Shouts a familiar redhead holding up a can of some kind of energy drink as an explosion of red, white, and blue smoke explodes behind her.
"Hey Brook," Val calls out to the Light Cruiser, "isn't she also one of you guys?"
"That's San Diego, she always said she wanted to make it big someday." Brooklyn says, closing her eyes, reminiscing about the days she would post up on a tiny stage on deck, singing to a small group of sailors between deployments.
In the beginning San Diego sang to nobody in particular but, Brooklyn would notice a couple of sailors hanging around her keeping her company one day and overtime those couple would grow to a fairly big following to the point the Captain of the ship they were stationed on at the time would get annoyed at all the men on the deck.
"If you want, you can ask her for an autograph when we get to the Joint Base." Brooklyn suggests as she plops herself down on the sofa next to her fiance.
"Wait… does that mean?!"
Cuddling up into Val's side Brooklyn confirms with a small peck on her cheek.
"You better behave yourself over there Valentina." Mama Hermosa commanded as she walked into the living room.
"Over where?" Jules questioned. Turning to face his sister. "You guys going somewhere?"
Flashing a bright grin, Val sticks out her hands waving a V, "Brook's taking me to the Joint Base."
Spinning in her recliner, Maria laughs.
"Ha! Val surrounded by a ton of pretty girls…"
Halting her chair to face the couple, "I fear this marriage may be over before it even began."
Shaking her head Maria leans towards the Light Cruiser, "I apologize for my sister ahead of time."
Brooklyn couldn't help but chuckle at hearing her earlier worries said out loud.
"H...hey!" Val yelled, throwing a cushion at her sister.
The forceful thud of the fabric marked a successful impact as it deflected upward from Maria's face knocking her back into the recliner.
"MOM~!" The little sister yells rubbing her nose, "Val's being mean because I told the truth."
Bringing a chancla down on her daughter's head, Mama Hermosa points it at her.
"Don't throw things at your sister!"
Rubbing the top of her head Val nods acknowledging her mother.
Sticking her tongue out at her older sister, Maria goes back to spinning in the recliner.
"And you!"
Rearing up to throw her chancla, Mama Hermosa takes aim, letting it loose with astonishing force. With precision that could make even Warspite jealous, the little slipper nails the fast spinning Maria right on her forehead.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop spinning in my chair!"
The slowing rotation of the recliner came to a slow halt, only a tiny groan of acknowledgement came forth from between the armrests.
"And give me back my chancla"
Quietly creeping out of the living room, Jules tries to sneak back into his room.
Only to receive a slipper to his butt from across the room with another precise shot.
"And you better not be playing that game all night again."
Returning to the living room he and his sister hands her back her slippers.
"Yes Mom." He says before the both of them slowly make their way back to their rooms.
"Wow, three for three." Brooklyn says, trying to hide her amusement, "with accuracy like that you should join the navy."
"So I can be with my good for nothing husband, no thank you." Mama Hermosa jokes. "My battlefield is right here, thank you very much."
So I guess she really is my superior, Brooklyn thinks as she chuckles at her response.
Taking her seat on the unoccupied recliner, she changes the channel. "So when are you leaving?" Her gaze not leaving the TV screen.
"Before the end of the Week" Brooklyn answers quickly.
Mama Hermosa hmmd in acknowledgment.
"It should take us around four to five days depending on the weather." The Light Cruiser explains, feeling the need to inform her future mother in law the exact details of their route.
"We'll be going by way of the Panama Canal and sailing north west from there."
"Be safe you two, hopefully you won't run into any Sirens on the way."
"There hasn't been any major Siren movements as of late," Brooklyn tries to reassure, "and if they do show up we have one of our strongest escorting us."
Getting up from the couch, Val gives her mother a hug.
"Brooklyn's gonna help me pack so if you need us for anything…"
Pulling the Light Cruiser along, the two retreat into Val's room.
Looking around, Brooklyn can't help but notice how clean Val keeps her room.
Every wall of the room is decorated tastefully with artwork and posters.
Various pictures of her family and also of the two of them are scattered among the numerous shelves also lined with books and stuffed animals.
A fairly stark contrast to the sparsely furnished room Brooklyn herself lives in, but that wasn't always the case.
"So what should I bring?" Val says, pulling a large luggage case from her closet.
"Some outfits you want to wear," Brooklyn ponders on what she should bring, "Something business casual for the summit."
Rummaging around her closet she pulls out a white blouse and lays it on the bed.
"Hmmm…" Val contemplates, as she holds up a light and dark pair of pants.
"Oh, and bring something comfortable for the voyage," Brooklyn says as she points towards the beige capris, "and if you want, there's plenty of clothing shops by the Joint Base so we can go shopping when we arrive."
"I suppose it's not that surprising when you've got a base made up almost exclusively of women" Val laughs at the thought of a large shopping center next to a naval base.
"And my sister would probably love to take you out and dress you up if you let her." Brooklyn says, memories of being pulled along with the rest of her sisters by St. Louis on hours-long shopping sprees.
Picking up a picture frame of one of their first dates, Brooklyn smiles warmly at the hastily taken selfie on the walkway of her namesake's bridge.
"Hey Brook." Val calls out.
Turning her head, the Light Cruiser's eyes go wide as she nearly chokes on her own tongue.
Holding up a lacy pink and very see-through negligee to herself, Val tries to pose in a sexy manner.
"Soo~ what do you think?"
Brooklyn's cheeks go red at the thought of the thin fabric barely able to hide what's underneath.
"I… it's…" Clearing her throat, Brooklyn nods her head approvingly. "It's nice."
"Want me to try it on?" Val teases as she steps closer to the Light Cruiser.
"That would be…" Brooklyn narrows her eyes at her approaching fiance, her blush deepening. "I came here to help you pa…"
Before she's able to finish, Val's face is right in front of hers, their noses brushing against one another.
"We could take a break~" Val whispers, her eyes locked onto Brooklyn's.
"But we haven't even started…" The Light Cruiser tries to protest, but Val's hungry eyes keep her frozen in her arms.
"I'll be quick~" she coos softly as she gives Brooklyn a quick peck on her lips.
"B..but someone will hear…"
"You'll just have to keep your voice down."
"You know I can't…" Brooklyn lets out a breathy gasp as Val brings her lips down on her neck.
Closing her eyes and biting her lip, the Light Cruiser tries her best to keep her voice in as Val's hands roam around her body.
A loud thud startles a reading Maria as she lay in her bed with today's class notes over her head.
Taking her focus off her papers, she looks towards the noise at the wall she shares with her sister.
"W...wait… Val~" Brooklyn's voice trails faintly through the wall.
A muffled moan from the straining Light Cruiser makes Maria blush.
"Shh…" She can hear her sister say, "She'll hear you."
Pulling her headphones over her ears, Maria grumbles to herself, "I already can, sis." Pumping the volume all the way up on her music player, she lifts her papers up to her face trying to get her mind off whatever was happening next door.