Work Text:
'It's not customary for to bring a spouse on board, Captain,' said the first mate, Mr Gosper of Muskratia. There was a whiny note in his jittery accent.
'Don't be absurd,' said Captain Amelia, snapping her spyglass open and gazing across the space-route for turtles. Those things could move surprisingly fast this close to breeding ground, and The Untiring was a spanking new ship that she'd rather not get bumped about. 'Dr Doppler is ship's naturalist,' Amelia continued to instruct Gosper (he'd never replace Mr Arrow, but then no-one would), 'who also happens to be my spouse.'
'But we already have a doctor!'
'Do we have one who can build a neutron dispenser from a tea-spoon and a small bag of flour?'
She knew Mr Landing could do no such thing. He was an ordinary ship's surgeon, which is to say he was a cook who'd once apprenticed as a butcher. Delbert's job would consist of taking notes, gazing on exotic creatures and minding the children. They would soon be old enough to heave with the crew – best way to raise a spacer - and then Mommy and Daddy could have some us-time.
Well, perhaps she did have just the teensiest touch of an ulterior motive.