Stage III Chapter VII

By: AW

Pairing: J/C, P/T Rating: M Genre: Drama/Romance Length: 740 words Date: July 2009 Setting: Endgame rewritten

Chakotay sat by Kathryn's bedside. She was forced into bed rest, he's stay there with her (except for the odd time when he had to check on Kayla). They were fortunate, Gretchen had made a point of coming to their house to help with Kayla until Kathryn was back on her feet.

Gretchen had put her hatred of the Cardassians – hard after what they had put her late husband and eldest daughter through – aside to help care for her little grand-daughter, it was not the child's fault that she had been born from a malicious act of abuse by her biological father's people.

Chakotay had taken it all in stride, loving Kayla as if she were his own. As far as Kathryn was concerned, Kayla was as much his as the other child she carried was.

The doctor had informed them that both children were doing well. For the time being, Kayla was a happy, healthy baby.

The other child Kathryn carried – one for whom by look on Kathryn's face already had a name picked out – was doing good as well.

Now Chakotay just waited for her to drop the bomb in regards to their second child's name. Kathryn had after all not woken up since the operation two days previous.

The doctor had informed Chakotay that the stitches should buy Kathryn and the baby another month. He was hoping their other daughter would be fine as well.

Although the one they had already was a great gift from Kathryn. He couldn't wait for their second daughter to make her appearance. When he looked at Kayla, all he felt was love, and aside from the tiny spoon-shaped mark on her forehead, she looked completely human.

Kathryn felt her eyes start to flutter open and she began to feel herself return to wakefulness. "Chakotay, is she okay?"

Chakotay looked down at the child he was holding, "Fine, but hungry I think."

Kathryn reached for the child and clasped the baby to her breast. The half-Cardassian angel started sucking. "You know I was sure that I'd hate her from the moment she was born, but I feel nothing but love towards her."

Chakotay moved forward and kissed Kathryn on the forehead. Rubbing Kayla's dark auburn down, "I honestly can't say that I feel any hostility towards her: I love her."

Kathryn smiled a soft questioning smile, "But will you love this one as much?" She pointed to her stomach, "Or love her more?"

Chakotay smiled, he knew what she was getting at, "I will love them both the same. As far as I'm concerned they're both my daughters."

Kathryn shook her head, how had she ended up so lucky? "So it doesn't matter that you're not really Kayla's father?"

He stared at her, trying to make her understand. "You're Kayla's mother and I'm your husband, so as far as I'm concerned that makes me Kayla's father." He paused, "All he did was rape you and walk away, that's not what a father does." Before Kathryn could speak he put a finger to her lips, "And if she ever asks, I'll tell her that maybe we don't share the same DNA, but I'm as much her father as anyone else."

Kathryn glanced away, "Fair enough." Her hands were roaming her stomach.

"Is she really active today?"

Kathryn grinned, "Oh yes; come here."

She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. "My goodness; I think you have a gymnast in there."

"Hmm..." she said distractedly. "What do you think about Nevaeh for this one?"

Chakotay looked confused, "Pardon?"

"Nevaeh: it's 'heaven' backwards."

He thought about it, "Nevaeah Hope Janeway."

He approached her and kissed her. He pulled back, "I love you Kathryn."

"And I love you my 'Angry Warrior'."

He laughed, "Don't worry: this 'angry warrior' has found his peace."

"So has his 'woman warrior'...don't worry." She paused, "So now all we have to do is wait for this one to make her appearance.

He grinned, "Yes, and the bed rest is going to kill you."

She rolled her eyes, "I'll deal with it."

Just then, twin A, little Kayla started wailing. "I think she's hungry again."

"Ah, a mother's work is never done." And with that said she took the baby from her father, and began filling her little tummy.

END Chapter VII