[two days later - blond pilot looks lovingly over the top of three fuzzy heads to his partner, still gravid himself but immersed in taking care of their first arrivals - as much as the EMH allows him anyway]

"We're lucky the Doc is almost as good as he thinks he is."

"Don't tell him that or we'll never hear the last of it."

"Ooops."

"Ooops?" [dark haired Ops-officer leaves off tickling one of his daughter's tiny feet to grin at his husband] "You didn't."

"Well, I was so relieved you were going to be okay! Not to mention the saclets were still fine."

[Door to sickbay swishes open. Seven enters]

"Good evening, gentlemen. I have come by to practise."

"Sure Seven, but this time, try cooing or singing to them when they cry. Telling them that crying is an unproductive exercise won't make them stop." [Harry tries not to snicker at the memory]

[the ex-borg considers the advice carefully] "I will endeavour to do better." [ex-borg carefully observes pilot and spouse] "Why did the captain not think my offer to build a maturation chamber appropriate?"

[Seven slides her finger under the pretty jumper one of the babies is wearing. Deciding a change is needed she moves first to the replicator then to an empty bio-bed.]

[Tom exchanges a speaking glance with his spouse then gestures for Harry to answer the question]

"Seven, you're human, not Borg. Humanoid species carry their babies to term."

"But the maturation chamber is more efficient. The young one would emerge fully formed and my work would not be impeded in the meantime."

[Harry throws up his hands and shrugs then fields the question to his spouse]

[Tom focuses on the infant in his arms and begins speaking softly] "Because these kids are our future, your future and sharing that with your spouse is the closest you ever come to being immortal. You can't trade one second of that experience for a sterile maturation chamber."

[Seven considers] "I believe you are right."

[Harry sniffles while looking at blond spouse adoringly]

[tall ex-borg walks back to tri-carrier, places baby back in her space, takes other baby from Tom and also puts her back in her spot, checks third baby, and then nods and wheels carrier out of sickbay] "We will return in thirty minutes. They like the view from Astrometrics."

[Harry waits until Seven has left before he questions his husband] "Give, Paris. I want names and dates."

[Tom tries to maintain an innocent expression and fails] "Seven months for Seven and possibly seven but I think closer to eight for the Captain. Maybe four to five months for B'Elanna."

[Harry's eyes widen as much as possible and he squeaks out a response to the shocking news]

"B'elanna is the...the Captain...and Seven?"

[That squeak is followed by another higher pitched squeak which ends on a groan]

"Har?"

[dark haired Ops officer body goes lax in bio-bed]

"Oh shit!" [Frantic mate comms EMH] "Doc, now. It's now. Dammit, Doc, it's happening right now."

[the EMH materializes immediately, an instrument tray beside him]

"Calm down, Mr. Paris. I have done this before, you know. Computer, erect a sterile field in a 2 meter radius around my position."

The End

Continued in Parenting 404