Facing Your Worst Fears

by Starsinger

Yes, this is it. Julie faces her brother and tells him the truth. Don't own Babylon 5. Joe does!

Zack watched the long black cloak whisper across the deck as the Ranger exited the Minbari vessel. The red-haired woman walked with a deadly grace that would fool any who weren't aware of the reputation of the Anla'shok. He realized that she had been through just a year before to consult with Delenn. He slid her ID into his machine without looking at it, and smiled cockily at her, "Back again, huh? Will you be here longer than last time?"

Julie looked thoughtfully down at the man, "Probably not. All depends on the President."

"Well, I'm sure President Sheridan won't monopolize all of your time…" Zack's voice trailed off as he noticed the name on the ID Dr. Keisha Julie Sheridan. "Are you related to the President?"

He heard a soft chuckle as she took back her ID, "Johnny's my brother, why?"

"Oh, no reason. You know where their quarters are," he shook his head.

She smiled back at him, "If I wasn't already seeing someone I might be tempted." Zack shook his head, without all the soot on her, she was quite attractive.

Julie ran into Garibaldi on the lift. It was a day for reunions. "Actually going to see John?" She nodded her head. He noted the sadness in her eyes, "Hey! He'll be glad to see you. We've had a rough few weeks."

"I heard," Julie replied. She exited the lift and walked down the corridor. She took a deep breath and pressed the buzzer. Delenn opened the door looking a little more frazzled than usual. She took one look at Julie and threw her arms around her. Startled, Julie returned the hug and managed to disengage the woman's arms before entering her quarters. "Delenn, are you okay?

Delenn sat down in a chair and announced, "I'm pregnant."

Julie's jaw dropped open. "Pregnant, you want my help?" Delenn nodded. "Where's John?" she whispered. As the words escaped her mouth the door opened and John Sheridan entered the room. He stopped and stared. Julie looked back at him words failing both of them. Delenn just watched as John strode across the room and scooped his sister up in a hug. Delenn watched in astonishment as both people started to cry.

"Well, I don't have to ask where you've been all these years, it's pretty obvious," John said. He waved her to another chair as he sat on the couch. "Did Delenn call you?"

"No, I came here to see both of you," they watched as Julie reached into her cloak and pulled out a picture. She handed it to John. The picture was of a young girl, seven maybe eight years old, who looked remarkably like his late wife, Anna.

"She's beautiful, Julie, is she yours?" he asked.

"Well, I've had the joy of rearing her since she was weeks old. She's been a sweet little girl. Even when I had to run to Minbar and scoop her and Queyla."

"Kayla loves her Aunt Julie," Delenn murmured.

John's eyes turned on his sister, "Your niece? How is it, is she my daughter?"

Julie dropped her eyes to the floor as she explained how Kayla came into her custody. "Until recently, you haven't been in a stable place to take custody, and with Delenn's pregnancy, this is a remarkably good time for you two to meet. Oh, yes, she knows who you are. On her nightstand a picture of you and Anna on your wedding day has stood since Anna died. I added Delenn's picture when I received word of you own wedding. I was very careful to explain who you were since she could understand. She's known Delenn all her life, so that wasn't much of a stretch. Let's go down to MedLab so I can evaluate Delenn."

"What about Kayla?" John asked.

"Oh, didn't I mention that? She, Queyla, and Kaplan will be here tomorrow." John nearly swatted her over her head.

In the MedLab Delenn lay down on the bed as Julie introduced herself to Dr. Franklin. They watched as Stephen told Julie everything he knew about the pregnancy. Julie nodded to herself as they both walked back to the bed. Julie brought up the hologram of the baby. Both doctors studied it, looked at each other, and shrugged. "Well, this is a first. The baby appears to be doing well, but we have nothing to compare it to. The heart is normal, for a human, in fact, the internal anatomy appears to be human. It's too early to tell about the outward anatomy, except one."

"It's a boy," John said. Julie nodded. She turned off the hologram and helped Delenn into a sitting position. "Should we be worried?"

Julie shrugged again, "I hope not. I'll keep a close eye on you. The only worry is that a Minbari pregnancy is shorter than that of a human, eight weeks shorter. At the end of the pregnancy I'll be keeping a close eye on lung development."

That night Captain Elizabeth Lochley took Julie in hand. When John and Delenn met up with her at the restaurant at the Zocolo, Julie wore a little red dress. It had spaghetti straps, was low cut, and the hem ended above her knees. She wore white heels and drew stares and admiring whistles as she walked through the restaurant. John rose as she approached and the Maitre D' pulled out the chair for her to sit.

"Elizabeth does good work," John said with a gleam in his eye.

"Bessie had too much time on her hands," Julie muttered. "I haven't worn anything this short in years, much less walked in heels. Who thought of that particular torture device?" Delenn grinned and watched as John tried to get Julie to tell him about his daughter. Julie's reply was always, "You'll find out when you meet her.

The next morning they all met in the passenger disembark as a Minbari cruiser let off its passengers. John watched as Julie's eyes lit up at the sight of an older woman, a younger man, and a small child. John sighed. She had Anna's hair and nose, but she also had his blue eyes. Both adults had her by her hands as they stopped in front of them. Julie knelt in front of her, "Kayla," she picked her up and stood in front of John, "This is your father."

Kayla hid her face in her Aunt's cloak and looked shyly at her father. John held his hands up to her and she slowly leaned toward him allowing him to take her into his arms. Kayla looked skeptically at the stranger who held her, "Daddy?" she finally asked.

John hugged her, tears streaming down his face. He then looked surprised behind Julie. Julie turned around to find Kaplan on one knee, a ring box in his hand. "Last week, I was given permission to marry you. So, I went to Earth and asked your father's permission. Your mother assured him that this was a good thing. So, I'm asking you, Keisha Julie Sheridan, will you marry me?" The box opened to reveal a single, diamond solitaire ring.

"Well, I didn't see that one coming." Dr. Julie Saunders.