[poke]

[small puff of air escapes, rolls to far end of bed]

[poke harder]  "Harry.  You awake?"  [poke]

[firm tone]  "No."

"Har, I'm hungry."

[deep sigh] "Again?  You already had two dinners tonight! AND that late supper at 2200!"

[rumble from stomach, apologetic tone]  "I'm sorry, but the little sac wants to be fed."

"Whatchya want?"  [yawn]

"Liver and onions and some of the leola root and sweet potato casserole, oh..., and throw in a couple slices of pizza and a bowl of tomato soup."

[gulps to swallow rising bile]  "Sure Tom."

[turns in order to replicator, returns to bed, eyes still closed]

[speaking around a mouthful of food]  "Isn't it great Janeway increased our rations?  I don’t know how they’d have stretched to feed us both. [contented sigh]  "Just think Har, in a few hours you'll get your turn."

[gulps again to swallow rising bile]

[smacks lips, licks fingers, considers getting another sticky bun] "Let's just cuddle, Tom.  I'm not at all sleepy now."

[beleaguered spouse takes dishes to replicator, wonders about the possibility of a hand job]

[no hand-job, worried about the greedy gleam in spouse’s eyes when cock is exposed]

Five hours later- Med Lab

"Hi Doc.  As promised, it’s my turn."

[nods support, grasps husband’s hand, sweet sticky bun in the other]

"Tsk.  Well, Ensign Paris, I see you are taking my words to heart."

[scans standing patient, blinks eyes, checks tricorder again, decides to verify results after procedure on prone patient]

[Speaking with false cheer]  "Well, Mr. Kim, you know the drill.  I'll need you to lie here for several hours to be sure about attachment."

[retrieves sample from nutrient gel]

"Har, it'll be over soon.  I'll stay by you the entire time.  This is really easy.  I don't understand what women complain about."

[long slow hiss]

[wide grin]  "That was easy Tom.  You're right, I didn't feel a thing." [rubs barely perceptible bulge]

"Do you feel full?  That's how I felt when the Doc did it."

[wondrous smile]  "I'm pregnant, Tom."

[licks fingers and reaches for another bun from satchel slung across shoulders]

"Yeah Har."

[small tussle over satchel, EMH wins]

"What?  Stop pushing me, Doc.  What do you want?"

"Will you please lie on the bio-bed, Mr. Paris?"

[scans torso, hums nervously, scans again, patented cheerful smile]

"Mr. Paris, do you remember that discussion we had about only having one child?"

[wary response]  "Yes Doc."

"Hmmm, well, ummm, errr...."  [quick rush of words]  "Not all of the zygotes were absorbed."

"What?"  [sticky bun falls]

"It has been ten days since impregnation; only 5 zygotes were resorbed."

[soundless gasp from recently impregnated husband's biobed]

"I'm having triplets?"

[meticulous phrasing]  "No Mr. Paris, you are having quintuplets.  One zygote redivided twice."

[soft wail]  "You promised *one!*  You *PROMISED!*  Dammit."

The End

Continued in Parenting 201