Part 1
"First Born"
By: Kathryn
Rated: G
2001
janeway82@subspacemail.com
Summery: Janeway and Chakotay are over joyied at the fact that they are going to have a child. But when Janeway has a miscarriage will their marriage be affected? I wasn't exactly happy with the way I ended it but my fingers were getting some major cramping. Please send feedback and perhaps I can make the ending better.
The quarters are decorated with flowers and Native American paintings. These are the quarters of the command team of the USS VOYAGER. A chipper woman exits the bathroom with her husband; both are ready for the day ahead.
"Chakotay, today I want to scrub the ship from bow to stern, top to bottom. Including having the carpet shampooed will you please assign crew members to each task."
Chakotay smiles in the last seven years she hasn't once really cleaned the ship nor had others do it for her.
"Why aren't you mighty chipper today Kathryn. I haven't seen you like this since New Earth. What's gotten into you?"
Janeway just throws on her jacket and kisses him full on the lips. Surprised by that reaction Chakotay doesn't argue.
"Isn't it the most wonderful day? I haven't felt this good for…I don't know how long. It must have been the Shore Leave last month."
"Shoot if that didn't give it away!" Janeway scolds to herself but Chakotay didn't quite get it he thought I was just that she felt relaxed.
"We had better hurry, the Doctor expects me in Sickbay at 0800 hours for my annual exam. I'm sure he'll remind me that you are not aloud to miss another one this time."
Janeway just giggles, she knows how much the Doctor hates it when he has to come to her rather than her coming to him.
"Maybe I should let him suffer? What do you think Chakotay? Should I make him "wheedle" as you would put it."
Chakotay shakes his head. He knows what she meant and she was right he would not like it. Janeway on the other hand was very excited on getting the exam because she knew that an addition to the crew would make a welcoming present but if she went to see the Doctor it would become suspicious, and she wanted the perfect moment to tell the father.
Together they both exit their quarters hand-in-hand, coming to the turbolift they both were smiling and giggling.
"Deck One, Bridge, Deck Five Sickbay."
The computer responds to Janeway and Chakotay's command and the distinctive humming assures their intended destinations. When they reach it the doors swish open for both on different decks. Janeway checks the readings, and moves to her seat. When fifteen minutes pass Chakotay makes his appearance on the bridge and takes the seat next to his wife. When Janeway believes her crew had done their duties she looks over to Chakotay…
"The Doctor wants you in Sickbay Captain. I told he you would be right there."
"I want him to sit for awhile before I actually go to see him…IF I got to see him. I have decided to go on with my plan, I will make him come to me. Commander, you have the bridge, I will be in my ready room if you need me."
Chakotay smiles then laughs lightly but nods his head anyway. When the Captain is out of sight and sound Paris turns to Chakotay.
"Isn't today annual exams for the ENTIRE crew not just 152 people? It has to be the Captain only goes into her ready room when she's stuck on a solution or escaping the Doctor."
"Today we have to get our annual exams and you now how much the Captain HATES the Doctor let alone Sickbay."
Paris nods and turns back to the Helm.
Several Hours Later…
Janeway has assembled a collection of Data PADDS scattered all across her desk whether they are book or actual ship reading I'm not sure of. With what normally be mugs of coffee have been replaced with several tea cups including her "good luck tea cup" when instead of coffee, it was replaced with herbal tea. When she believes enough time has passed for her to escape the Doctor she taps her COMM badge.
"Janeway to Sickbay."
Knowing that the Doctor would be furious with her she waits several seconds before he answers. He is clearly angry and frustrated well as much as a hologram could become.
"Doctor here."
Janeway teasingly waits several seconds before answering…
"Please report to my ready room Doctor…Oh, and please make the bridge crew believe you came here yourself. I don't want them to think I called you…They would become suspicious, and I want it to be a surprise."
"Why may I ask?"
"I will let you in on it as soon as you get here…and remember…this is our secret. Janeway out."
The Doctor does what is asked and when he enters the bridge the crew all laughs they know why he was here. There was only one person left to get their annual exam…Captain Janeway. He touches the key PADD on her door and waits a few seconds before pressing the insigma again. Another few seconds and the door whooshes open. Janeway is standing there with a very serious expression on her face.
"What do you want Doctor?"
"You missed your annual exam this morning. You know It is Starfleet Protocol to get one every year in order to continue to command VOYAGER. It's Starfleet…"
"Protocol…I know, I know, I've made it to becoming Captain, I know "Starfleet Protocol." Let's just get this over with before I change my mind and send you away."
The Captain motions her hand to allow him to come into the Ready Room. She wants to smile and hug him but she can't it would ruin everything. Still both wearing serious expressions the door hisses closed behind him.
"You did a very good job Doctor."
"Now would you kindly tell me why it was so important that you run your original "Ignore the Doctor" comments? Why did you call me?"
Janeway is like a child; she grabs a hold of the doctors' hands and move around in circles about him smiling.
"If you want my professional opinion, I think you should cut down on the caffeine Captain you are getting a little to "hyper" for my taste. Not that I mind I assure you but you hate coming to Sickbay for your annual exam."
"Doctor I am literally floating one air, I feel as light as a feather. I feel…I don't know this feeling I've never experienced it at least not since I took command of VOYAGER."
The Doctor takes Janeway over to her desk and peers into those obsidian eyes of hers, as blue as the ocean after a storm.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Doctor, the most wonderful thing has happened! I'm going to become a mother like I always dreamed! Isn't it wonderful?"
The Doctor is speechless for the first time in a long time. He just doesn't know what to say; now there are two children on the way. He has his work cut out for him.
"Before you get to excited I think we should run some scans and a pregnancy test to confirm your suspicions just to be sure. There could be a number of reasons you have come to this conclusion."
"I'm late, simple as that. I told you before that I'm like a clock always on time. It's been two-and-a-half weeks and still no evidence of my period. Now isn't that reason enough to believe?"
"I suppose but there could be many reason's you are late. Stress, not eating right, being worried about everything, I could go on forever if you wish."
Janeway is becoming very angry with the Doctor by now. She knew her body and she knew that something was different with it. She knew she was pregnant even if she had no physical evidence. What did she have to do to convince the Doctor of that fact?
"Fine, why don't you run your silly little scans. They should prove to you that I am right. Go-ahead Doctor runs them. See for yourself."
Discouragingly she sits still as the Doctor runs the scan with the wand that belongs to the tricorder over Janeway's body. Taps a few buttons and sighs with a smile.
"You're right, I see a healthy fetus about seven weeks gestation."
"I told you so. See a woman knows those things without high tech equipment as well as exams. So in your own opinion how am I?"
"You are fine, in excellent health actually, but because of your age I must monitor you closely. You are at a point in your life that you can have a miscarriage. I want you to take it easy and try not to work so hard on your job. As for the baby, have you felt any nausea, dizziness, fatigue, lack of appetite?"
"Nope, No, and No. Nope for the nausea, No for the dizziness, and No again to the fatigue. I told you when you came in I was walking on air. If I had any of those symptoms would I have said that?"
"No. That's good to hear, normally women have morning sickness, you seem to be one of the few lucky ones who don't suffer."
"It's a good thing because if I had those symptoms I couldn't very well hide it from the crew let alone Chakotay. I want to make a special announcement in a unique way to let him know he is going to be a daddy."
"I'm sure. I'll see you in one month. Remember what I told you. "
"I'll be there, oh, and Doctor please let them think I gave you a rough time."
"I will and congratulations."
"Thank you."
The Doctor nods as the door hisses open. Wearing a mask of deceit the Doctor grumbles under his breath while holding an instrument that checks reflexes.
"Did she give you a hard time Doctor?"
"She…She…She is the most difficult patient I have ever had, outside of Doctors of course. She wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get complete scans. She practically kicked me out of her Ready Room…WOMEN!"
The entire bridge crew laugh as the Doctor storms off the bridge. When he reaches the turbolift and it hisses shut a smile crosses his face. He should become an actor not a Doctor.
"I knew Captain Janeway was going to blow off the Doctor. I should have taken wages for a bet. Why doesn't he just give up?"
"You know the Doctor Mr. Paris always on the go."
Later that evening Janeway is waiting in their quarters dressed in a bright red spaghetti strapped gown, sure to catch the eyes of her husband. As she lights the two candles in the center of the table Chakotay enters. Janeway slowly turns around with a seductive smile on her face. He knew what she wanted tonight.
"Wow! You look Great!!!" How did I ever get so lucky?"
Janeway walks over to him and hugs him. He in turn returns the favor. Walking over to the table in the center of their living quarters Chakotay realizes that it has been set in a romantic mood.
"What's this? You usually don't cook like this; you always burn our dinner. That's why I thought I was going to do all of the cooking?"
"I just wanted to be spontaneous I guess. Go on sit down eat your dinner before it gets cold. While you are eating I have written a message in what is being served."
Chakotay sits and looks at the meal, baby-back-ribs, baby corn, baby carrots, accented with a baby white rose and baby's breath at the center of the table. He wasn't sure what that all meant but he was sure it was pretty important.
"Lets see, baby-back-ribs, baby corn, baby carrots, accented by a baby white rose, and baby's breath. Oh Kathryn…
For a brief moment she thought he had figured it out but she was wrong…
"Finger Food…I love this.""
"No not finger food look harder. It is telling you that I am going to have a baby.well we are going to have a baby."
For a moment, he was speechless. He wasn't sure if he was excited or if he was surprised. They had been trying to get pregnant since Unimatrix Zero and they had yet to succeed. He had all but given up when suddenly out of the blue she was pregnant and they didn't even try.
"Chakotay, please say something so I know you are as happy as I am about this. Please Chakotay…"
Chakotay shakes his head to come back into reality and out of his stupor. When doing so he smiles, jumps out of his seat and takes her into his arms. What he thought earlier just wouldn't be safe now.
"I've never been so happy in all my life…outside of marrying you of course…I just finally decided that we would never become parents the natural way and I accepted it. And now when I give up it happens. I love you so Kathryn!"
Twirling her in circles he seals his words with a sweet and tender kiss. He was the happiest man in the Delta Quadrant.
When he places her down they take their seats again and begin to eat the dinner Kathryn had prepared.
"Are you sure Kathryn we have been fooled before remember?"
Kathryn takes a bite of her corn while shaking her head "yes" when she finishes the bite she continues...
"Those were because I thought I had morning sickness. But this time there is no doubt about it. Remember when we first started trying I told you I was like a clock, always on time never late. I still haven't gotten my period and it's been two-and-a-half weeks. I called the Doctor to my Ready Room this morning but asked him to play along with my usual attitude when it comes to exams."
"He certainly did a wonderful job. He had the entire bridge crew believing him. Remind me to tell him he's a great actor, we should give him an award."
Janeway laughs lightly, maybe the Doctor did a better job than what she expected of him. Maybe to good of a job.
"The Doctor said I was almost seven weeks, so why don't we play a little game, you do the math and tell me when it happened and I will tell you if it is correct. While you are doing this maybe you'll understand what I meant about this morning."
Chakotay was really, REALLY, bad at mathematics so it took him several minutes to contemplate exactly the time she conceived. But finally after several long, LONG, minutes he comes up with the answers he's been searching for.
"Our Shore Leave, on Tiara IV. We set down the ship and the entire crew got the R&R they needed. Now lets see, what did we do and when did it happen…he knew what they did AND when it happened, I know what we did…When we did it…Where we did it… and How we did it…I've got it…The beach…under a star filled clear night, with the waves crashing against the shore and sand. It's a good thing no one else was there huh?"
Janeway laughs she remembered THAT night they made love on the sand until the wee hours of the morning they were bound to get something out of that…although a baby was the last thing on their minds.
"The Doctor said that was when I conceived, but he wasn't exactly sure what day. I know why now. The baby is due at the end of August, give or take a few days considering the circumstances. But I'm sure I know exactly when I conceived it was the last time we made love. I somehow felt like something different was inside of me at the moment I thought I was still recovering from the physical prowess. But I pushed it away."
"I guess it’s a woman's intuition, or on this fact mother's intuition. So how do you feel otherwise?"
"Oh, I've never felt better. No morning sickness, that is the best plus. I haven't felt this good since I married you."
"And the baby how is it? Is everything within "normal range?"
Yes, the baby is fine. I made sure the Doctor didn't tell us what it was so we could be surprised. You don't mind do you?"
"Oh no, not at all, in fact I think I like that I will be surprised when its born."
"Are you still happy?"
"I have never been so happy, as I said before, this is a miracle our baby. OOO, I just love the sound of that…"OUR BABY."
They both bet up and move to the couch to finish their discussion.
"We have a lot to talk about. So why don't we start form basics, I think the most important thing is that we need bigger quarters, a suite perhaps? Then I have to find the way to tell the crew, and you to make the baby's cradle."
Chakotay laughs lightly remembering "New Earth", he built everything and if the crew hadn't returned, they would be living in a log cabin with a boat on the riverbank. Janeway rests her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes while Chakotay places a hand on her still flat tummy.
"I can't believe we are going to have a baby. And its here right inside of you right now this very minute. You are nourishing it and that's something I could never repay you for. This life right here is a part of us, it is OUR future."
Janeway is touched by his words. Through the tears she smiles.
"I couldn't have done this without you. You are the one who began it all. Thank you so much. By giving me the opportunity to carry our child you have proven to me how much you really care for me."
Chakotay gives her a sweet kiss and together they walk into their bedroom. Sharing a bed with one person was an honor, but sharing it also with their child was even sweeter.
The following day the Senior Officers have assembled in the Briefing Room. Janeway as usual is at the head of the table.
"Now enough on ships business, now for something of a more personal nature. This is going to surprise most of you but I am pleased to announce that not only is B'Elanna and Tom having a baby so are Chakotay and I."
Between the whistles and the congratulations Janeway manages to get their attention again and finish what she was saying.
"Now, as I was saying, the Doctor said I was fine and so was the baby. I hope B'Elanna and Tom's daughter will be a good friend to ours. We are not sure what the sex is and intend to not find out but we want it that way."
"We wanted it that way also but the Doctor let that cat out of the bag. But none the less we can give her a name or title and she will have all the love in the world."
With a smile the crew are dismissed.
B'Elanna and Janeway are in the Mess Hall finishing up their dinner. B'Elanna is now a healthy 24 weeks pregnant and the Janeway at 22 weeks. Their pregnancies are going well and are beginning to discuss a baby shower. Suddenly Janeway feels some pain in her abdomen; wincing B'Elanna becomes concerned…
"Are you alright Captain? You don't look so good maybe you should go to Sickbay we call always finish later."
Janeway smiles as she shakes off the dull ache.
"No, I'm alright just a little indigestion, I don't think the baby likes Neelix's cooking, let alone an entire meal."
"Maybe, but I think you should go see the Doctor just incase it isn't indigestion, you never know."
"I don't want to see him twice in one week, I'll get the same old lecture, "You're under weight considering you gestational age, you need to get some rest, don't push yourself to far, and With your condition you must be monitored carefully." He gives me a headache."
B'Elanna laughs; she did a very good imitation of the Doctor.
"That was a very good impression of the Doctor you have Captain. Why don't we get back to the baby shower?"
The child inside B'Elanna flutters and she gasps lightly, It was Janeway's turn to become concerned.
"What's the matter B'elanna?"
"Nothing, our daughter just keeps moving so much when I want to sleep she wants to be awake, and when I'm awake she wants to sleep. If she weren't a girl I'd think that she was a miniature Tom Paris."
"She's running out of room in there B'Elanna. And the Doctor said she might come early. You're due date is six weeks away, you should expect increasing movements, and the fact that she is part Klingon."
"Well at least she looks like me. I wouldn't want another Tom Paris one is enough. Although it was kind of rough in the beginning poor Tom. One moment I was as happy as can be, the very next ready to kill him."
"Those are all those hormones floating around in our bloodstream's. Chakotay has had his share over the last few weeks. Except, one minute I am happy and the very next I am crying. "
The mothers-to-be laugh a good laugh and soon they both continue with their plans on the baby shower for the both of them.
Later that night Janeway is waiting in bed for Chakotay to get home. When she hears the door open she jumps out of bed and greets him at the door with a kiss.
"Hello Chakotay, I missed you. What's up with the ship? It running well I hope because in a few months I won't be able to do my duties."
"I know and I'm fine. At this moment we are in the most boring area of the Delta Quadrant you could ever find. But that's okay I don't mind the vacation. Until you have the baby I hope it stays this calm. I wouldn't want you to go into labor in the middle of a BORG attack or anything like that."
After a "hello" kiss he goes into the bathroom to change into his nightclothes. While he's there again she could feel what seemed to be a contraction. She only let out a light gasp but she was sure something was wrong when she felt another a short while later. Maybe B'Elanna was right; she would go see her while Chakotay rested.
"Chakotay honey, I promised to check in on B'Elanna for Tom while he is working night shift. I won't be long, and try and get some rest we have a busy day tomorrow."
"Okay, I 'll see you in a few minutes."
Janeway exits her quarters and on the way to B'Elanna's room she is followed by another pain. Something was wrong very wrong and she didn't want Chakotay to worry. B'Elanna would be there. A few minutes later she reached B'Elanna and Tom's quarters. Ringing the insigma B'Elanna calls out to her.
"Come in Captain, I know its you, Tom told me you were coming by to check on me."
Janeway enters and B'Elanna is working on a cradle for the baby. All the pieces were across the floor and she was kneeling before them.
"I don't know how mother's in the 20th century ever was able to put one of these together, it so much easier in the 24th century. Why don't you come and sit down with me maybe you could find out how to put it together?"
Janeway nods and joins B'Elanna on the floor. When a contraction comes she lets out a gasp and begins to feel the wetness at her feet. B'Elanna catches on to this and places a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright Captain?"
"NO, I think I'm going into pre-term labor. But it's too early the baby won't survive out of the womb. What am I going to do?"
"Just relax maybe the contractions will stop, you never know."
"No I don't think so, I think I am bleeding, I need help. I didn't want to worry Chakotay unessasarly he is worried enough about everyone else on the ship."
"That's why you came here isn't it? You didn't want Chakotay to see you in this kind of pain. I should call the Doctor."
Janeway nods as the pain begins to get worse. If the Doctor didn't get here soon she was going to have a miscarriage here in B'Elanna's quarters and that was the last think she wanted.
"Torres to Sickbay…"
"Sickbay here B'Elanna."
The Doctor voice comes over.
"The Captain needs you in my quarters right now hurry!"
I'm on my way with a stretcher just keeping her calm and assist her through the contractions. I 'll get there as soon as I can. Sickbay Out!"
A few minutes later the Doctor arrives at B'Elanna's quarters. The Captain is lying on the couch with her hand across her stomach breathing thorough pain. B'Elanna is right there at her side of course. When the Doctor arrives B'Elanna takes her seat next to Janeway as the Doctor examines Janeway.
"How long have these contractions been going on?"
"They started in the Mess Hall several hours ago, I told her to go see you but she insisted it was indigestion. Then when she got here she was having them again but more frequently. I've tried to help her but they seem to be getting worse."
"How long have you been experiencing bleeding Captain?"
"Since just before I got here. At first I though I was leaking fluid but then I found out that with each contraction it became worse. Please Doctor, save the baby, I don't want to loose it please."
"I will do my best. I am going to take you to Sickbay and give you something to stop the contractions, but if that doesn't work I won't be able to save the baby you understand."
Janeway nods, she knows that she will make it, but wasn't sure that if she did if Chakotay would still love her the way he did before she had the miscarriage."
Later in Sickbay the Doctor was unsuccessful at saving the child and Janeway suffered a miscarriage. Though she seems to be fine with it the Doctor know that it will be a rough road to recovery for Janeway and her health.
TBC…
Part Two
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