A.N. Thank you so much to Juddysbuddy for reviewing. I hate to beg, but reviews are very encouraging to receive. I always try to respond. If I didn't it was an accident and please PM and tell me. I will get back to you the next time I see my PMs.

Also, the prequel will be totally unbeta'd unless someone is volunteering, so please PM me if you have any suggestions or comments re story structure, spelling, etc.

Finally, I forgot to say in chapter one:

Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction story only. Star Trek does not belong to me, but to Paramount. I have only borrowed them. Only the characters created by me and the story line are mine.

The birth

With a sigh that was nine parts exhaustion and one part relief Alicia Paris flopped back onto her pillow. She closed her eyes, grateful for the respite. Minutes later she looked at the newborn baby that had been placed in her arms. Finally, a boy for Owen. She looked up at the doctor. "You remembered our agreement, didn't you, John."

John Frazer hesitated before changing the subject instead of answering. "You should leave him, Alicia. Owen Paris doesn't love you. Why put yourself through the heartache and the pain? If you leave now, no-one will ever be the wiser for it. I'd happily tell him that neither of you survived the labour process."

Alicia focussed her attention on her new son for a moment before responding. He really is beautiful. Absolutely perfect. "Don't be ridiculous, John; Of course, Owen loves me. And I love him. And now that I have finally given Owen the son he's dreamed of our entire married life, our life together will be perfect."

John shook his head in disbelief. Everyone knew about Owen's affair. Sure, they were discreet. But in the circles they all ran in, a secret like that was impossible to keep hidden. John just couldn't understand why Allie would continue to be so wilfully blind to the truth staring her in the face. John opened his mouth to share the ugly truth he'd discovered just this morning, but hesitated as the beaming joy on his friend's face truly registered. Maybe, now isn't quite the right time to discuss this.

Alicia sighed as she looked up at her favourite childhood friend. She frowned as she studied the lines on his face. I finally make it through a full term pregnancy and get my baby miracle boy and all you can do is go on about some rubbish gossip. "Really John! Lucky for you that I've known you my entire life and I know better. Otherwise, I'd think that you believe that junk and have to drop you from my social circle." Alicia screwed up her nose and stuck out her tongue to show that she was just teasing before reaching out her hand and resting it on his arm. "John, I appreciate your concern. But if Owen had been having this affair for as long as you seem to think he has, then I'd have seen the signs of it a long time ago." She smiled gently before opting to dismiss the topic in a somewhat more confrontational way.

"Besides Owen knows that we're finally having a boy this time. If I disappeared and took the baby with me, Owen would leave no stone unturned trying to find us. And without the bodies, you would never successfully persuade him that we were dead." She tightened her grip on her newborn son. Looking at the trusting blue eyes staring back at her, she shook her head.

"What alternative would I have? Even if what you were suggesting was even remotely true, you don't seriously think for one moment that I could ever just abandon this beautiful little angel. Little Tommy needs me. No matter how bad my marriage was – and it's wonderful, not bad, thank you very much, - I could never forgive myself if I left him behind."

John nodded. He turned away to look at some equipment so that Alicia wouldn't see the bitter smile etched on his face. No point in saying anything now. It won't change anything. Better to leave her in her fool's paradise. At least, she's happy, there.

As the ward nurse entered the private room, John retreated into his usual mask of professional competence. "Well, Alicia, everything looks good from a medical point of view. Although, I want to keep the two of you here for observation for the next few days, just to make sure. Any questions, concerns or difficulties, though, just let me know." With a final nod of encouragement, John turned and walked away, his heart thudding heavily in his chest as he did so. The moment he had set eyes on Alicia he had been hooked. She had looked like a little miniature angel as she lay calmly in the crib, smiling and cooing at the five year old staring back at her. Soft golden curls had framed beautiful blue eyes - the colour of the ocean. They had grown up together, gone to school and med school together and eventually Starfleet together. And thirty five years on, he was still in love with her.

Unfortunately, from the moment she had met the handsome and charismatic Owen Paris, she had had eyes for no one else.

As she watched him retreat, Alicia bit her lip and sighed. She wasn't stupid. She knew why John continued to believe the worst of Owen. It wasn't because of how Owen felt about her. It was because of how he felt about her. She shook her head. If only John would get over this stupid school boy crush and find a woman of his own to love and marry. Then he'd stop listening to silly and malicious women's gossip, and get on with his own life instead.