A/N Thank you to StarTraveler and Shepweir Always for pointing out my mistakes. Any help is welcome. This is a continuation of the story "Past and Future" for Shepweir. Tom/Rachel. Trying to redeem myself after posting "Fire and Ice".

Tell me who admires and loves you, and I will tell you who you are. (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

Tom walked down the corridor looking for... "Lieutenant Cruz, you are late."

"Sorry, sir"

"Two hours, Lieutenant."

"Sorry, Sir" He repeated.

Damn, it was not the Lieutenant's fault, Tom knew this scientist in particular, did not respect the chain of command.

"Where is she?" Tom asked, exasperated.

Lieutenant Cruz pointed to the lab.

Tom found her lost in your work as always, looking at something under a microscope.

"I am leaving; I just need to finish this job." She said without turning around.

"You are two hours late, Rachel. You promised you would slow down."

She stood up, her movements slow and careful, but she could not hide the expression of pain.

"We are right, Tom." She conceded.

"Your expression tells me the opposite, Rachel."

She approached him with slow steps. "It is just a pain in the back, Tom." He put his hand over hers. The baby moved beneath his palm, the movement never failing to delight him.

She was six months pregnant.

"He is agitated today." Said Tom.

"He is your son, demanding and difficult to control."

"My son, hmm? As I recall, you took part in a very enthusiastic way. Not that I am complaining, of course."

Rachel blushed.

'I am over 30 years old for Gods sake!' Rachel thought.

Tom laughed, even after all these months seeing her blush was captivating.

"At least the other is calmer, maybe he is more like me." Rachel said.

"Rachel, you are the most stubborn person I know." "Said the pot to the kettle." Rachel murmured.

"That's not so bad Tom, they will have to be strong in this new world. You will have a few years before they grow up. Ashley on the other hand, will soon be a teenager. Parties, boyfriends, kisses, coming home late..."

He groaned. "She will only be dating after college. Perhaps an escort is required."

"Thomas Chandler, you will not do such a thing."

"With four children, I will grow old before their time. God help me," he said with a suffering voice.

"Look on the bright side, you still has hair, at least for now."

"Whose side are you on, Rachel?"

"Always on your side, my Captain. In addition, I like you with the silver hair." She said stroking his hair. "It gives you a special charm."

For him, the woman in his arms was a walking contradiction, blushing like a teenager at times like these, and yet in bed, when she took the lead, was passionate and demanding.

Pregnancy changes the body of a woman; sex was not a priority for some. Especially when the normal symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness, nausea and irritability appeared. He was willing to wait.

Rachel, however seemed to feel good, her pregnancy occurring without incident, the changes to her body not leading to decreased desire. He was pleasantly surprised to see that she felt sexier than ever and showed it often.

Rachel noticed a slow smile full of meanings on Tom's lips, as he watched her body.

"What you are thinking, Captain Chandler?" She asked, though she had a good idea what he was thinking.

"Well…" Replied Tom. "I was thinking of the exercises we did this morning ... My team and me." His smile widened.

Rachel looked at Tom's lips, his eyes darkened with desire. She put her hand on his neck and kissed him. In an instant, he lost himself completely in the feel of her warm lips upon his. The response was immediate; it was as if he leaned against barbed wire. The desire, the passion they felt for each other was present, in the hands that caressed, in the fighting of tongues, their bodies seeking greater proximity, almost as if they wanted to become one. Sometime later, he groaned and turned away from her, needing oxygen after all.

They were breathless, the kiss affected her too. Damn man.

She could not help but provoke him. "What were you saying, Captain?"

"I don't remember now." He replied smiling.

The babies chose that moment to stretch, kicking their mother's stomach.

"Looks like we woke up the other." Said Tom. "Let us go now, you need to eat and rest."

A mischievous smile appeared on Rachel's face. "And then we can resume this morning's activities the morning?" She asked.

"Woman, you are trying to kill me?"

"No, Captain, only offering help to the war effort."

Tom raised his eyebrows in silent question.

"Tom, you need pleasant memories to support the long hours of work. I'm just providing relaxation, you seem tense." Laughter in her voice.

Life with Rachel was anything but dull.