(Enterprise)

Family Matters

by Brandi Bills

Friday October 11, 2002

Chapter 1: The miscarriage

San Francisco

"Christaklarie, where are you?", Canterico Glorio called from the bedroom of their beach house in San Francisco, California. Near Star Fleet Academy.

"I'm in the living room.", She said holding a Siamese cat with slightly, blue eyes on her lap.

As she wore a printed caftan dress with her hair in a braid around her head. When her husband entered the room, and smiled. Because seeing her, he thought, was like a breath of fresh sea air.

"Hello, Imzadi.", He thought to her as she smiled at him, and did the same.

"Hello, Imzadi. Come sit beside Perseus, and I. You've something on your mind.", She said taking his hand so he could sit beside her on a futon decorated with irish lace.

"Your taste for foreign things is quite interesting."

"I know. I've always loved foreign things as you put it. That's why we have a futon with irish lace."

"Now how do I know that?"

"Because you know me.", She said resting against him as the cat silently padded away.

"How's our baby? Huh?", He asked placing his hand on her growing belly to observe its growth.

"She's fine."

"What? He's fine? That's good to hear.", He said laughing as she pursed her lips in defiance.

"No. They're fine. Huhhuhhuhhuh."

"They huh? That's interesting.", He said as her face changed from content to strain.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"I feel like I'm in labor, but I'm not supposed to be. Can you call Dr. Bujuau.", She asked gripping his hands around her with desperate will.

"Yes. I'll call her right away. But you have to let go first.", He said trying to ease her grip away from him.

"Don't leave me!"

"Shhhhhh. I'll take care of things, but you've got to let go.", He soothed while she cried.

"All right. What should I do?", She asked in an anguished voice. Because she could feel what was happening with every Betazoid bone in her body.

"I'll help you to lay down here. Then I'll call the doctor.

Ready?"

"Yeah.", She said as he placed her feet on one end of the sofa. Then her upper half on the other end. After she let out a loud scream to show her discomfort. A scream that made Rafe feel like a monster.

"Hold on. I'm calling her.", He said as the chime on their house rang just then. When a rendition of Freraleece boomed throughout the house. Calming Klarie in her pain.

"Is anyone at ome?", Came the voice of the doctor from the front door. As Rafe's worry lessened from it.

"In here! In the living room! Hurry! Something's wrong."

"All right, Rafe. Calm down, Share.", The french doctor said ushering him into the kitchen to complete some task she'd given him. Whence she turned her attention back to a now screaming Klarie.

"Help me! I know you're here!"

"I'm here, Share. Calm yourself. You must be calm for your babe's sake.", The doctor soothed when Rafe brought some tea for Klarie to drink from the kitchen just then.

"Drink this. Siemone says it will help.", He said trying to help his wife drink the tea when she could hardly hold still from the pain.

"No! I'm not thirsty! Stop it, Canterico! Please.", She begged just before he got some of the tea into her to quiet her.

"Jai bien, Share. She'll feel much better now.", The doctor said to him with a smile.

Just before she took out a scalpel, and began to cut into his treasure. As he fought not to cry for what he knew. For what his wife would have to deal with. Once she woke from her drug educed slumber. But he would be there for her, because he always was.

"Is it over?", He asked coming back into the living room after several hours of sleep.

"Wei, Share. She'll heal now."

"Will she? She will be expecting a baby in her arms when she wakes up, and I have none to give her.", He said sadly after seating himself in his favorite shaze chair.

"She as you, and that's all she should need.", The doctor said before packing up her things to prepare to leave.

"And what about her emotional well-being?"

"Just be there for er. She only needs you, because you love er so much. Uh?"

"Yes, I do that.", He said escorting the doctor out through swishing doors. Just before she kissed him on each cheek for reassurance.

"Can- Canter-", Klarie tried to say as he rushed back over to her when he realized she was coming around.

"Klarie, I'm here. Rest. That's what you should do now.",

He said kissing her cheek with gentle care.

"Can?"

"What?"

"Don't tell Mother or Jonathan. Please say you won't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm ashamed about how I failed you.", She whispered as tears coursed out from her half-opened eyes.

"Oh, Baby. You didn't fail me. Sometimes our bodies react in ways we cannot control. That's all."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No. You were perfect. You're perfect to me. Now I want you to rest.", He commanded as she complied. Only because she was exhausted in both rights.

"I swear to protect you from the monster that plagues you, Share.", He said mimicking the doctor while caressing his wife's cheek.

"You are something with which I never want to part."

"I know. I know."