Sho'on

Chapter Fourteen

Everyone who has ever visited a doctor, and had a diagnosis reversed, or have been instructed to discontinue a certain medicine, realizes that medicine is not an exact science, but is a constantly morphing one. Experiments, studies, inventions, annual medical journals all reflect the constant reinvention of medical diagnosis.

It started out as a feeling almost like an 'out of body', 'spaced out' uncomfortable mental state. Michele decided that her blood count must be below normal, she would visit the clinic in a day or two. When Sho'on returned from work and after dinner they conversed. Michele decided she would not trouble him with her exact complaint, and declined his offer to do his own diagnosis and crawled off to bed early. She imagined that she would be prescribed some sort of supplement.

As she insisted, her visit to the clinic was a solo affair. Sitting on the bio-bed, after her physical, she swung her legs to a tune she was humming in her mind. The doctor came in with a PAAD in his hand and smiled at her. She smiled back and asked,

"I was thinking that I might have a low blood count. I have been a little dizzy and feeling out of sorts. My husband and I thought it would be best if I got the problem checked out."

"Lieutenant, your diagnosis is definitely not 'on point'. It is my pleasure to inform you that you are pregnant, as a matter of fact you might be carrying two fetuses. I observed that your womb is quite large for the number of weeks I have calculated from the start of your pregnancy.

Then touching her arm he continued,

"Looking at your charts I believe you should be quite surprised."

The doctor observed an open mouth, widened eyes, and then tears.

"I thought I could never…"

"Apparently, so did we, but you must realize that medicine is not an exact science. Congratulations , Mrs. Mas Pi Tia."

He addressed her with Sho'on's middle name, handed her a prescription for prenatal vitamins and instructed her to return in two weeks for an initial sonogram. In addition he recommended lots of bed rest, and a monitored low-impact exercise, such as walking. He explained that when there was a question of viability in a pregnancy, all errors must be on the side of caution.

Michele left, with a lot of written information that she would immediately implement and her return home was in a dreamlike state. Since her accident her job had allowed her to work from home so upon arrival she opened her com unit to do some work, but she found she was too much in shock to be able to formulate specific thoughts, or even construct a sensible sentence. Besides her mind not working, her hands were shaking and then she started to laugh and then laughed some more. Her exquisite thought was that their love had indeed conquered all, for his attachment to her would not allow him to leave and her love believed what he said.

Exactly how would she let Sho'on know? She was attempting to formulate a plan... maybe she would tell him during a dinner at Wong's? In contrast to a Terran male, his Vulcan stoicism would not allow an emotional, over-the-top display at such an announcement. With that realization, she did wondered exactly how the news would affect him.

Well, the expression…the best laid plans…applied in this case. They never made it to Wong's. That very night he sat with her on his lap, caressing her face and then he slightly jumped as if startled and he started to touch her all over her body as if his fingers were a doctor's tool for examination. He then gave her a long, lingering kiss, and then, he buried his face in the curve where her neck met her shoulder and then Sho'on said,

"My Michele, we have created a wonder. You are with child, really with children. I must assure their safe delivery to us for Taluhk nash-veh k'dular he au." (I cherish thee and them).

He placed his hands on her still flat abdomen and breathed deeply, then with his eyes closed but his thoughts intensely on his aduna he said,

"Multiple births carry with them a degree of risk, so we will visit Sirin to see what he would recommend to strengthen you and nourish our sons. I will teach you the discipline of meditation and a low-impact martial arts. Our sons will survive as will you so we may become what is desired by us, a family complete with offspring."

So, with her adun's revelation Michele then knew she was to be a mother of twin sons. She wondered if her damaged reproductive system would always release multiple ova. That was something to consider in their future 'family planning'.

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Of course, that news caused quite a bit of excitement at the next Saturday's 'pot luck' supper. With that revelation, the females mentally began planning a baby shower. The men simply nodding as an indication that they heard the news and individually relived how they had received the same message from their aduna. For some, although it was quite a bit of time ago their memory of the event was quite detailed.

For Sirin, it was immediately after Pon Farr; for Spock when The Enterprise was returning after their five year mission; for Lo'vaak, on his honeymoon. The males agreed that the news proved to each of them that IDIC was indeed one of the most powerful and welcome of all Vulcan concepts, and even though the thought was not logical, they wondered what their child or children would look like.

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On this particular Saturday, Sarek and Dansk joined them and Sarek was introduced to the newest attendee, Sho'on. Sarek later commented on Sho'on resemblance to his father whom Sarek had met years ago. All the males immediately went into a contemplative state as they remember back, at the time before, Va Pak, the 'immeasurable loss', but with typical Vulcan reasoning, they accepted reality because, Kaiidth, 'what is, is'.

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Since Nyota was the only one of the bondmates to have carried twins she would end up being a well-spring of information and supplies for Michele. With all births there are the basic supplies but for a mother carrying twins, some things are unique, e.g. a twin stroller. The one Nyota supplied had been given to Nyota by the crew of The Enterprise* and a twin high chair built by Spock himself. Certainly her twins would have outgrown many things before Michele's were born. It was typical of the Vulcan mentally which was against waste to save items in order to pass them on to someone who needed them. Second-hand shops had been quite common on Vulcan. Nyota was certain that eventually New Vulcan would be host to the same.

Nyota thought to herself,

'How many multiple births had The Settlement recorded. She wondered if the percentage would be higher than Terran/Terran conceptions and deliveries. She would check with Ellie within the coming week. That would be important data to analyze As a matter of fact, a visit to that location was long past due and she should bring it up while all were present here at the house. She sent that sentiment to Spock who immediately mentioned it to the aduns for their consideration. It was decided that the coming week-end could be utilized to visit the settlement and as Nyota said, collect data.

*See the story, Spock the Interior Decorator Goes to a Shower.