Chapter 12

Ten months later their life was settled down some. Arturus Station was far from finished, but the central hub was inhabitable. The newly elected parliament members, and other highly ranked politicians, had officially moved from shipboard living to the station. Hackett and Alliance officials had joined them as new homes became available. The rebuild was progressing well with the continuing cooperation of all races. Projections for the finish date were not too many years in the future.

It was currently after midnight, and Hackett was hunched over the terminal at his desk in his new home. He and Leah had decided on a spacious but simple two level home. They had room enough to expand their family. Leah was sleeping in the bed behind him. He'd only been home an hour, and she'd already been asleep when he arrived. Steven had grabbed a shower and intended to join her in bed, but remembered a report he needed to go over before morning. He had settled at his desk. It was against a wall in their room for the time being, while they finished last minute details on his office downstairs. He was so intent on his work that he didn't notice her wake and approach him.

Soft hands slid from his shoulders down onto the planes of his bare chest. "Hi." Her sleep muddled voice said into his neck. Her lips caressed him enticingly, and he chuckled.

"I'm almost done here, sweetheart." One hand came up to stop her fingers tracing circles around an interested male nipple.

"What time did you get in, Hon?" She was still trying to distract him. It was a game they'd been playing for months now.

"Just a little while ago. I need to finish going over this before my morning meeting, Leah. Give me a few more minutes?" He didn't really mind her trying to lure him away from work though.

She grinned around the ear lobe she was nibbling. "Bet I can distract you." She stated, and her breath in his ear did amazing things to his libido.

"You can try." He stated and she giggled.

"Bet I can distract you with nothing more that a little conversation." She further challenged.

"Okay, now I want you to try." He was still plugging away at his terminal making notes for the meeting this report pertained to. Leah interrupted him momentarily to sit across his knees, but he was used to working around her. They'd done this before, her in his lap seducing him while he worked until he couldn't take any more.

She wasn't trying to seduce him now, though, just snuggling against him. "You remember a couple weeks ago when the three of us had that stomach issue?" She asked, and he nodded. "Well, I had a recurrence today while I was setting up my classroom. I went to see John about it." His typing had slowed.

"And?" He asked, a little tingle of fear starting in his gut.

"Well, I'm not contagious or anything, but we'll have to deal with this the rest of our lives." She informed him soberly.

He was officially distracted trying to think of a disease that she could have that wouldn't be contagious with the symptoms they'd all experienced. He was also trying to come up with which trip she was likely to have picked it up on. "How serious is this?"
"Pretty serious. In fact, John is convinced you are solely to blame." She was watching his expression turn more and more grim.

"You picked it up on one of our tours to the other worlds then." He deadpanned.

"Yep," she was having too much fun with his reaction.

"What is it, Leah? What have you got?" He was feeling a little ill now, himself.

He was confused again when she brought his hand to her abdomen. "A baby." She whispered before kissing him softly while that sank in. It only took a moment. He pulled away to look at her stunned.

"A baby?" He asked and she nodded. He grinned. "It better be my fault then, evil woman." His hand was pressed more solidly over her womb now. He felt the change in her belly. It was more firm than normal. "We're having a baby."

She nodded and kissed him again. "In a little over six months."

"Okay, you win, I'm distracted." He was still in shock, but the idea was becoming less elusive. "Are you all right? Is the baby?"

"Fine, everything is one hundred percent okay. It's why I've been so damn tired lately though. Luckily the morning sickness has been mild, but my energy levels are just tapped out." She informed him, her hands over his on her body.

He was just looking at her, studying her face with a little grin. "I love you, Leah Hackett."

"Back atcha, Daddy Steven." A giddy surge of bliss came over him when she called him daddy. He took her mouth fiercely, and loved the little sound of surprise she made. She was shifted to straddle him by the time the kiss ended. "Come to bed, Steven." She nuzzled his bearded chin. "I need you."

"I'm yours, Leah." He stood carefully with her in his arms, and forgot all about that report until the next day.

Hackett was thrilled for days after that. Even Shepard noticed his elation over the QEC. She'd recently returned to duty after the birth of her second son. He told her the news, and she was delighted for him and Leah. The tour was still a few months away from Palaven. He floated through meetings, and insisted that Leah relax when he was home. She just shook her head at him, and joined in the work they were still doing to make the house their home. A week later their delight was renewed when they listened to the quick flutter of their child's heartbeat. The idea was starting to feel real. Lucas was still a little wary, but happy. The wariness stemmed from the overflow of affection that the couple was feeling. He started jokingly calling the pair Mama Leah and Papa Steven.

The nickname had prompted a rough housing match between the Admiral and his adopted son. It ended with both of them out of breath and laughing on the floor of the room they were supposed to be painting that afternoon. "You know Luc, I'm glad you are part of our family."

"Me too." He was silent for a moment. "Hey, Steven?" He was tentative now.

"What's up, Lucas?" Hackett propped himself up to watch the boy.

"Do you think it would be okay if I called you and Leah mom and dad?" Luc wouldn't meet his eyes, scared of the reaction.

"I'd be honored if you called us that, Luc." He reached over and nudged the nearest shoulder. "If you want to. No pressure here."

"I know, but I think I'd like to have a mom and dad again. Not that you guys aren't, but I'd like to call you that." He said gently but with certainty.

"We'd like that too, Luc. I know Leah thinks of herself as your mom. She would never push that idea on you, but she loves you so much Luc. As much as a mother should." Steven offered. "I think of myself as your dad. I have since that night in Colorado. When I saw the damage that Philip had done to you," he shook his head, "I wanted to pulverize the bastard."

"Really?" He was surprised.

"Absolutely. I've never been okay with children being harmed, but when it's a child I know. Someone I've grown fond of, and means the world to the woman I love, well, heaven help them." Steven sounded as serious as Luc had ever heard.

"Thanks…Dad." Luc smiled after he said it. Then he nodded. "That feels right."

"Thank you, Luc. Now, we'd better get back to work before Leah sees us goofing off." Steven stood and pulled Luc to his feet and into a brief hug.

Luc pulled back first, and they got back to their painting. After a while, Leah came in with a couple of glasses of tea.

"Brought you working men some refreshments." She offered. The guys set aside rollers and brushes and came to accept.

Hackett took a drink then kissed his wife. "Thanks, Sweetheart. We're almost done here." He looked around the room inspecting their progress.

Lucas had guzzled his drink and taken the glass to the kitchen. He returned and hugged Leah from behind. "What do you think, Mom? Is it looking good?"

"Luc?" She'd stiffened when he had called her mom. He squeezed her shoulders.

"Love you, mom." She broke down and it scared the crap out of him. "Oh god, I'm sorry."

Hackett laughed. "Don't be, Luc. She's happy."

"Then why's she blubbering all over me?" Leah had turned and wrapped him in a fierce hug.

"Hormones, son. She's got pregnancy hormones driving her a little bit nuts." He relieved the boy of the crying woman. She poked him in the ribs for the comment, but let him hold her.

"I'm okay. Luc, I'm sorry. You caught me by surprise is all. I've thought of you as my son for so long now. It's overwhelming to know that you want to call me mom." She reached out and pulled him close for a less tearful hug. "Thank you, baby. You make me so happy, Luc. You always have. Ever since I picked you up with everything going wrong, you made things better for all of us. I love you, kiddo."

"Love you too, Mom. I'm glad you made me stay with you." He hugged her back.

"Okay, enough." She pulled back and wiped more tears from her eyes. "The room looks great, by the way. How's your room looking?"

"I like it. Are we gonna paint the baby's room too?" Luc asked. Steven and Leah shared a look.

"Yes, of course," Steven said, "we should probably wait to find out what we're having."

"Nope, no finding out the sex of the baby. We can go with neutral colors. I was thinking a soft sunlight yellow for the walls. Maybe a cheerful spring green on the trim." Leah offered.

"I like that. Works for boy or girl and we can always repaint when he or she is older." Steven reasoned, and she nodded. "Okay, we'll be surprised then."

"It's a family thing, Steven. If you want to find out go ahead, but I don't want to know." Leah was being sincere. She really did not mind if Steven wanted to know.

"No, I'm fine with not knowing. We'll have to decide on two different names though, one for a boy and one for a girl." He came close to kiss her on the forehead.

"That's okay, we'll be ready with whichever name we don't use for the next one." She was grinning up at him.

"We don't even have this one yet and you're already planning for a third?" Steven was grinning though.

"You guys are goofy." Luc said, going back to his painting.

"Well, at least we're entertaining." Steven said and kissed his wife's nose. "Now, I need to get back to work or we'll never finish here."

"Okay, I'm going to get some laundry started and then I think I'll go finish putting up those photos we decided on for the hall." Leah kissed him back.

"Just be careful on that step stool, Leah." Steven warned.

"I will. I'll call if I need help." He nodded and she ruffled Luc's hair as she passed him on the way out.

Months flew by as life picked up with the start of school. Leah and Rin were as busy as the guys. Steven didn't like how tired Leah was at the end of the day, but she insisted that she was fine. John agreed with her at their appointments so Steven had to let it go.

Leah and Lucas came in late after one of his practices. He'd made the school soccer team and she liked to sit and relax while watching his team practices. The house was filled with the aroma of cooking food. "Oh man, that smells great." Luc practically moaned as they discarded shoes at the door. "I'm gonna go get washed up."

"Okay, I'm going to find out who's cooking." She dropped her bag and a stack of papers on her desk in the office she shared with Steven before making her way into the kitchen. She found her husband there at the stove. "You're home early."

He turned at her voice. "I thought I'd surprise you with dinner. My meetings in Vancouver ended earlier than I expected. We docked a few hours ago." He turned for a kiss and a pat to her tummy. "How's little Hackett doing today?"

"Just fine. The rascal has been kicking the crap out of my bladder all afternoon." She held his hand over the spot, and he waited until he felt a little nudge.

"Hey, in there." He leaned down to say against the movement. "Go easy on mom, huh?" The movement renewed vigorously.

"Someone likes dad's voice." Leah laughed and leaned over to kiss him. "Need help in here, Hon?"

"I think I've got it. You go put your feet up and rest. I'll come get you when it's ready." He brushed her hair out of her face. She'd grown it out a little and had gotten an asymmetrical cut that was popular these days.

"I'd rather sit in here with you even if you won't let me help." She said.

"Pull up a chair. I'll get you a cold drink from the fridge." She retreated around the island to sit on one of the stools.

"Just some water, Steven. I'm not all that thirsty." He pulled a cooled bottle out and opened it for her. "Thanks, Hon." She watched him at the stove for a while. Even after almost a year of marriage, she couldn't get enough of watching the play of muscles in his back. "So, what about Evelyn?" She suggested, starting up the name debate they'd been having for weeks now.

"It's all right. Lane?" He returned, with a glance over his shoulder. He caught the grimace on her face. "No, then."

"We need to come up with something soon. Only a couple months left before it'll be in use." She stated. "What about your middle name for a boy?"

"It was my father's name, so no." He said matter-of-factly. "How about Grant for your father?"

"Only if we can use Antonia for a girl. If we name our son Grant, I want his middle name to be Steven." She stood and came to his side. "I want to name our son for you." A thought struck her. "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about." He raised an inquisitive brow. "I know we already talked to John and kinda decided against the gene therapy to bring certain features out more prominently, but there is one thing that I'd like our child to share with you."

"What's that?" He asked, looking over at her.

Leah's hand came up to feather over his eyes. "These. I'd like to see your eyes in our baby's face, Steven."

"We can talk to John at the next appointment. If we give this one my eyes, the next one gets yours though. Deal?"

She smiled up at him, and he leaned down for another melding of lips. "Such a deal." She said as they pulled away. Her hand went to her womb again. "Crap kiddo, go easy on that. I'll be back." She headed for the bathroom and Hackett couldn't contain his mirth at the annoyance in her face.

"Hey, you're home! And you're cooking?" Lucas had finally made his way to the kitchen. The boy's voice had deepened and he'd shot up three inches over the last couple months since his fourteenth birthday.

"Early day." He made an aggravated face. "I can cook you know. I survived on my own for a lot of years before Leah came along. And no, I didn't always eat in the mess." Hackett elbowed the teen's ribs when Luc came close to look over his shoulder at what was on the stove. "How's practice?"

"Good. The Tridents are gonna kick butt next Friday. It's hard work, but I've always been in soccer so I don't mind. Mom says that I can take some martial arts classes if I keep my grades up."

"It's a good idea, we talked about it before I left for Earth. It'll help with your training in the Alliance if you still go that way." Hackett didn't want to pressure the military on Luc if he changed his mind about being a pilot. He wanted his children to have the choices he didn't have.

"I still think I want to, even if it's just a few years enlistment. It'll be good experience, and I can specialize in anything if my grades are good enough. I'm studying hard." He offered.

"I know you are, and I'm proud of you for being this responsible, Luc." The teen smiled.

"I've got good examples, Dad." He said with a smirk. They both laughed when a muffled curse was heard. "Well, you're a good example."

Leah came back into the kitchen muttering toward her belly. Steven laughed at her trying to bribe their child into not kicking her insides around. "She's a good example too, but maybe not while the baby's making her nuts." He joked with Luc. She heard him and stuck her tongue out at them both.

"Seriously, Steven, screw you." She was playful though.

"No, love, that's what got us into this mess in the first place." He turned to caress her tummy briefly before going back to the food on the stove. "Dinner's almost ready." He reached over to put his hand firmly back on Leah's belly, having noticed her wince again as her arm settled around his hips. "I thought I told you to take it easy on mom, little kicker." The movement again ramped up.

"Oh gods, stop, Steven. Now I have to pee again." She laughed tiredly.

"Sorry, love." He leaned his head down to rest on hers when she slid her arms higher around his waist, ignoring her bladder for the moment. She knew the urge would pass as soon as the baby settled down. It had only been a couple of days since he'd been home but she had missed him. He'd gotten a new yeoman recently and the woman always deflected Leah's calls. "What are you thinking, Leah?" He noticed her pensive mood.

"What time did you get back?" She suspected that the yeoman was deliberately keeping her from talking to Steven.

"Around lunch, why?" He was distracted, seasoning the food. He offered her a taste.

"That's good." She swallowed the bite. "Were you in a meeting?" She asked instead of answering.

"I was on a conference call with John, but it wasn't anything important." He noticed her expression darken. "What?"

"Nothing, you'll just think I'm crazy." She sighed. She didn't think she was imagining the way that his new aide treated her, but they'd already argued about this.

"She wouldn't put you through again?" He could guess.

Leah sighed, "no, and no, it wasn't important. I just missed you and wanted to talk. I miss our lunch break conversations."

"Sounds pretty important to me." He countered. "I missed you too." He turned off the stove and started moving things around. "Luc set the table, and you are on KP tonight too." Luc rolled his eyes.

"I've got KP every night dad, no worries." He moved over to a cabinet to get plates.

Steven turned back to Leah. "I still think she's just taking the new post too seriously. I'll talk to her again." She shrugged her opinion of that.

"Do what you want." She sighed. Steven didn't know what to say to make her understand that there was no possible way anything would ever happen between him and the yeoman. So he lifted her face with a finger under her chin and gave her a gentle kiss.

"I love you, Leah. Perkins is back from training in a little over a month. Yeoman Allen will be gone then. Can you hold on that long?" He asked.

"I'll have to, won't I?" Her mood was swinging in a direction he really didn't want it to go right now.

"Leah, from now until Perkins returns, message me directly. Don't call the office, call my omni-tool. If I'm in range I'll answer as soon as I'm able. Don't get upset, beautiful. Not now, I've got lots of plans for you this evening." His voice was low, so Luc wouldn't overhear.

"Steven, I'm sorry. I just know that she's doing this on purpose." She sniffled a little. "She's trying to drive a wedge between us, and you're letting her."

"Never, Leah." He tried to keep his voice from hardening too much and sending her over the emotional cliff she was on. "If she is trying to do that it'll never happen. I've got everything I want right here in the most beautiful wife on the station. Sweetheart, my eyes haven't wandered from you since you moved into my quarters on the Orizaba. For nearly two years I've been blinded by you, Leah."

"But I wasn't hideous then." She was swinging another direction, easier to handle maybe, but he still didn't want her mood to dim.

"Who said that?" He asked her and she gave a half-hearted shrug. "I know I haven't. You could never be hideous, honey, especially with our baby growing here." He rested his hand on their child. "You are more beautiful to me everyday. You're giving me a gift, Leah. Watching my child grow within you is the most breathtaking gift I've ever been given. The yeoman might have set her sights on me, but I don't even know she exists except to bring me files and coffee. All I see is you and our baby and our teenage son." He silently cursed himself when she burst into tears. He'd said too much and the hormones were taking over.

"Did it again, Dad?" Luc was back for silverware and drinks.

Hackett rolled his eyes. "Just finish setting the table, Luc. We'll be there in a moment." He steered Leah out and to the nearest bathroom. He sat her on the closed toilet, and wet a cloth before kneeling before her to wipe her tears. "Leah," her watery eyes were the end of him. "Come here." He pulled her back up and held her close. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I'll talk to her, and if she is still giving you problems I'll have a new aide sent over. Will that make it better?"

"Don't do it just because I'm crying, Steven. I trust you. I don't trust her, but I trust you. I'm sorry. Damn hormones." Her face was buried in his shirt and she was clutching him to her. He could feel the agitation of the baby against him too.

"It's okay, but I need you to calm down. You'll never get any sleep if you stay upset. You know how your moods affect our little kicker." He pushed her away enough to place a firm hand over the movement. It settled some with his hand stroking. "When you're upset so is the baby."

"I know." Her hand joined his. "Mommy's sorry, baby. I've just missed you, Hon. It's stupid, you were only gone two days, and I missed you like you'd been gone for weeks."

"Leah, it's not stupid. So you missed me, huh?" He brought the cloth up again to wipe away her tears. "What did you miss?" He was grinning mischievously at her.

"You." She smiled up at him. "I missed this grin. Thank god I'm already pregnant. That's the look that got us here, Steven." Her fingers were light on his lips. "I missed your warmth at night. I missed your arms around me. I missed your kisses, and gods did I miss your," she trailed off with a glance down the front of him, "voice." She grinned at the look on his face when she said that. "I missed everything about you, Steven."

"Then maybe you'll have to come with me next week. I'm sure we can work something out." He said.

She pulled away abruptly. "Next week?"

He grimaced at his stupidity. "Yeah, I've got an inspection of the newest relay next week. It's only one night." He was quick to inform.

"Are you going to be here for Luc's first game?" She asked. "It's next Friday."

"The inspection is Tuesday and part of Wednesday. I'll be here for the game." He pulled her back to him. "Come with me." He offered again.

"I can't, I'd love to, but I have school and Luc does too." She sighed.

"Worth a try. After you go on maternity leave, maybe?" He was still trying

"Maybe so." She was silent for a bit. "Steven, am I going to be a good mom?"

"What? Leah, of course. How could you not be?" He was thinking of the war and her kids.

"I'm a mess." She indicated herself with a hand. "I can't stop crying, and I'm completely neurotic lately."

"You're pregnant, Leah. John said you'd experience these moods. It's normal for a mom-to-be. Soon you'll be scrubbing the house from top to bottom, and still nothing will be clean enough." He knew that her swing was almost done now, but also that she could be sent into another with little effort. He wanted to avoid that at all cost. "Tell you what, let's go have dinner with Luc and then I'll ignore my office to spend time with you."

She gave him a soft smile. "You hate these damn swings as much as I do, don't you?" She was getting better and better.

"Yes and no. I hate when you are upset, but I love taking care of you. I love that you still need me sometimes." He was stroking her back soothingly.

"Always, Steven. I always need you. I'm sorry." He chuckled at her apology. It was the very end of the mood swing, and he was happy to see it go.

"No need to be. Apparently, it's my fault you're like this." He teased and she laughed at his reference to the way she'd told him about the baby.

"Still want another after this craziness?" Her hands were not idle on his body, and he knew if she went much farther they'd be having a cold meal.

"Absolutely, just not right this second, Leah. Luc is waiting dinner on us, remember."

She poked his ribs. "Spoil sport." Her voice held no anger though, and she went up on her toes to buss his lips with her own. "Let's go eat. Thanks for putting up with my moods, Hon."

"Still my pleasure, my love." He lifted her hand to kiss the back of it, then let her pull him out to the table.

Lucas just shook his head at them. "Oh hush, you ruffian. Someday you'll have yourself a lady to look after too." Steven thumped a young shoulder playfully.

"Maybe someday, but not for a long time." He shook his head. "Girls are too much work." Hackett laughed at that, seating himself and loading his plate.

"You are a very wise young man." Leah stated, ruffling his hair as she passed.

"Ten credits says he's got a girlfriend by the summer." Hackett offered up.

"Not a chance. I know he's already been checking out that young lady across the street from John and Rin." Leah snickered at the blush on Luc's face.

"Never said there was anything wrong with browsing, Mom." He countered.

"Oh I see how it is." Leah was laughing now. "Eat your dinner, Luc. By the way, I'll take KP tonight. I know you've got a test to study for, and I know you aced your exams last week. It was a deal, and you met your end."

"That's okay, I don't mind, Mom." He stated earnestly.

"Nope, a deal is a deal, kiddo. I'm on KP the rest of the week, unless I'm cooking." She insisted. "You still have the lawn to take care of this weekend, though." She started filling her own plate.

"No problem." Dinner was pleasant after that, and true to her word, Leah cleaned the kitchen, and got the dishes washing. KP wasn't all that much of a chore, but when she'd finished Steven had her relax on their couch with her feet in his lap. They were swollen constantly at this stage of pregnancy, and he made a point to massage them as often as possible to make things easier on her.

"Thanks, Steven." She sat up and maneuvered her girth to share a tender kiss with him once he'd finished.

"My pleasure, again, wife." She grinned at him. They'd been married almost a year, but he still found joy in reminding himself that he was married. She knew from their talks that he still found the fact amazing.

"Mine too, husband. Now, I know you have lots of work to catch up on, so do I." She giggled a little. "The office is calling our names."

"Actually, I'm pretty much done with work for the evening. Want to snuggle here on the couch with your old husband and watch a vid?" He waggled his brows at her.

"Oh, a date night. I can get behind that." She pinched his arm for the old comment and he had her flat on the couch tickling mercilessly. "Old my ass, Steven Hackett. Let me up before I pee on the couch!" Her distress was genuine, so he helped her to sit and chuckled as she fled the room. She was soon back. "This is getting old fast. I keep pushing this kid off my bladder, but they go right back."

"Sorry, Sweetheart. I'd help if I could." He lifted an arm as she sat beside him, and pulled her closer as he got the vid started. She settled against him and sighed contentment. "Love you, Leah."

"Mhm, love you back." She was already drifting. By the halfway mark on the movie Leah's head was settled against his thigh as she dozed. He was ignoring the movie in favor of watching her sleep. He loved watching her in unguarded moments. Her face was smooth and worry free, and he loved that he got to see her this relaxed. His hand rested over the baby, and he could feel the slight movements of the child within. By the end of the movie she was snoring softly and the baby had settled down under his palm. He hated to wake her, but didn't want to risk carrying her up the stairs.

"Leah," he called her softly, "sweetheart, let's get you to bed."

"Mmhmm, it's nice here." Her words were muddled and still mostly asleep.

He chuckled, "it is, but I'd like to hold you close, so let's go to bed."

"M'kay." She nuzzled into his thigh, and he strangled off a groan. That got her attention and her eyes finally fluttered open. "Like that did you?"

"Did I mention how very much I missed you?" He waggled his brows at her.

"Not in so many words, but I bet you're going to show me." She propped herself up to share a leisurely kiss with him. "I'm going for a shower, but then all bets are off, my admiral."

"I'll check on Luc and then join you." He stated, helping her to lever herself up off the couch. Luc was winding down for the night as well. He'd studied for a while and was now reading on his omni-tool. It had been a gift for his fourteenth birthday to help him get used to having one on his arm. "Mom's exhausted, so we're headed to bed." Hackett informed the teen.

"She's always tired lately." Luc grinned at him. "Night dad."

"Sleep well, Luc. Don't stay up too late." The teen just rolled his eyes. "I saw that." He said as he left the room. Luc shook his head and went back to his reading.

Leah was already in the shower, so Hackett joined her and took over washing her down. He tried to pamper her as much as possible when he was home. It wasn't often enough in his opinion. He was trying to get as many tasks as possible accomplished before his own leave started when their child was born. It meant he was not home as much as he'd like to be, so he made up for it when he was. By the time they'd done with their shower, Leah was back to drowsy. Steven helped her with her pajamas and got them both settled into bed. He snuggled up to her and helped her to lean back against him, placing an extra pillow under the side of her belly to help with the weight. She drifted off with a sigh of thanks soon after.