Burn
Sequel to Fire
Rating: 15/18
Disclaimer: I come in peace, they ain't min so don't sue, I didn't steal only borrowed. I might have looked at John but I didn't touch (honestly) :o)
Spoilers: 1st season
E-mail: Kyizi@lineone.net
Notes: You don't really need to have read Fire to understand. All you need to know is that Aeryn is pregnant and apparently Sebeceans don't usually get morning sickness (Lucky gits!) - but this is no ordinary Sebecean pregnancy!
There is more talking and less narrative compared to Fire.
I just want to apologize NOW for the bits with Pilot. I don't think I write him very well!
PS This was a rush job so be kind!
Timeline: When I wrote Fire, I had only seen up to just before "A Bug's Life" but now I have seen more so let me tell you what happened in this timeline. Basically everything is the same except that Aeryn never gave off the feeling that she liked Larraq because she was already pregnant and *with* John. The stabbing was nowhere near the baby and it was OK. When Gilena turned up they never actually got around to telling her they were together so she still saved his life...and died. Everything else happened the same e.g. Crais still stole Talyn etc.
Summary: The crew's thoughts about Aeryn's pregnancy.
Dedication: I am dedicating this to Jen, the kind soul who has not only given me my only feedback...(yes that is a hint...I WAN'T FEEDBACK!) but it was her who asked for a sequel.
"Good morning Sunshine!"
"Go to hell John."
"Well someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."
"Yes and that took about half an arn so get frelled. I am not in the mood."
"How's the morning sickness."
"I haven't had any...yet"
"Well maybe it's over." Aeryn clutched her stomach. "Or maybe it isn't."
"No I'm OK."
"The baby kicking?"
"Kicking, hitting, scratching...all night..."
"Not much sleep then."
"Maybe I would have if you hadn't been snoring."
"I don't snore."
"Rygel makes less noise."
"Yeah well I bet he also doesn't take all the room in the bed...wait I didn't mean it like it sounded. And how would you know if Rygel snores?"
"Don't lie I know I look like dren."
"That wasn't the way i thought you'd think it sounded...You look radiant."
"I look like a house."
"No you don't...well...maybe a small condo but...ouch"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So," Chiana said as she entered command, "where are the happy couple then?"
"If you are referring to John and Aeryn," D'Argo gave her a look, "Then I believe they are with Zhaan."
"You mean they still don't know when the baby's going to come?"
"According to John, Human pregnancies last longer than Sebecean's. So Zhaan is unsure when the baby will arrive."
"Oh." Chiana screwed up her face, "Well I hope that thing stays in there longer. I don't think I can put up with a screaming little brat..."
"Well we manage to put up with you."
"...much less one that is likely to inherit personality traits from Aeryn and John...hey!"
~~~~~~~~~
"Aeryn..."
"What?!"
"Can you please sit still?"
"Sorry."
Zhaan gave her a reassuring smile, "It's OK. I can see that it must be difficult."
Aeryn gave her a half laugh, "Difficult doesn't begin to describe it! I though I would put on a little more weight then give birth. I was already five monens pregnant..."
"You were only three remember?"
"Oh yes," Aeryn gave Zhaan a teasing smile, "I had forgotten you had made a mistake..."
"My dear, if you weren't pregnant you would have regretted that remark."
They smiled at each other, both glad that they had grown closer during Aeryn's pregnancy. Aeryn had always respected Zhaan for her calmness and clear thinking, just as Zhaan had always respected Aeryn's courageousness and loyalty since she had left the Peacekeepers, but neither had actually thought themselves friends. Comrades and allies certainly but never friends...until now.
"So...it's harder than you thought?" Zhaan asked breaking the comfortable silence that had engulfed the room as they had reminisced.
"It wouldn't have been if those frelling human's didn't have cycle long pregnancies!"
"It is not quite a cycle Aeryn."
"Close enough."
"I will agree that human's seem to need a long time to develop."
Aeryn laughed, "You can say that again."
"Hey Sunshine, I heard that!"
They both turned to see John enter the room and Zhaan smiled as Aeryn feigned innocence.
"I don't know what you're smiling at Zhaan, I heard you too."
"Yes, John, I am sure you did. I, however, do not require your help in keeping warm at night."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Well as long as they don't expect me to share my food then I don't care."
"You mean you don't care about a screaming little brat keeping us up all night as well as the Peacekeepers chasing us?"
"What do you mean all night?"
Chiana rolled her eyes, "I thought you had kids."
"Yes I did but I," he raised his head regally, "had other people to take care of them. After all you don't honestly expect the 16th Rygel of Hyneria to actually raise the children himself!"
"Raise the children! I'm surprised they let you breed!"
~~~~~~~~~~
"Boo!"
"Crichton I am going to kill you!"
"Woah sorry. I'm sorry. Really I am..." he leaned in and kissed her.
Pulling back slightly she tried to continue the argument, "Don't you dare think that kissing me is going to make me..." His lips cut her off as her last words were muffled by his kiss until she finally gave up and kissed him back.
"So," he said pulling back finally, "How's my lovely bride to be this evening?"
"Annoyed. Impatient. Fat."
"You are not fat..." she raised her eyebrows. "Aeryn this is not fat...it's our baby."
She smiled, "I know...I just wish the baby was more anxious to join it's parents...and give it's mother a break! I swear if this baby doesn't hurry up and get out her I am going to pull it out with my bare hands!"
"Aeryn. I thought we had agreed that yanking the baby out wouldn't be the best way to show it love."
"This is your fault you know."
"Here we go again."
~~~~~~~
"Zhaan?"
"Yes, D'Argo?"
"May I...may I have a word with you?"
"Of course." Zhaan looked at him confused. D'Argo was fidgeting and he looked extremely nervous about something. "What's wrong?"
"I...I was wondering if you would look at my gift for John and Aeryn's baby."
Zhaan smiled, "I would love to sweet D'Argo."
~~~~~~~~
The dim yellow lighting was causing shadows to play on the walls as the DRDs slowly went through their nightly routine. Pilot watched through the eyes of one in particular. One that was no different to the others except from the piece of blue tape that was attached to it's right antennae. It sat in one place, as was its job, as it had done every night for the last few monens. This one in particular had a special job.
Pilot watched the rise and fall of Officer AerynSun's chest as she lay in the arms of her mate. He always made sure that "little blue", as Commander Crichton had started to call him, was stationed in their quarters whenever Aeryn was asleep. He made sure that he was always in the distance watching but not too close that Aeryn would know.
He watched his friend as she slept...his friend. He felt happier in that knowledge. He had a friend and he was a part of the crew...and both himself and Moya could not wait for the arrival of her baby.
~~~~~~~~
"Oh." Aeryn woke with a start. There was a small beep from the doorway and she looked over and saw "little blue" where she knew he would be.
"Hello Pilot." She whispered. "I'm OK." The DRDs response was to duck its antennae and back slowly away.
"It's OK you don't have to...Oh." The DRD quickly rolled into the room towards her. "Oh no. John? John?"
"hmmmmmm?" He rolled towards her only to see her sitting up clutching her stomach. He shot up on the spot. Suddenly he was alert and wide-awake.
"Aeryn, what is it?"
"I think...I think the baby's coming!"
"Oh frell."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Push, Aeryn, push."
"Shut the frell up Crichton!"
"Geez and I thought she was bad with PMS."
"Get her out of here before I..."
"I think that's my cue to leave."
"Yeah I'd say so Pip. Come one Aeryn, push."
"I think I'll say goodbye now Crichton...you may not live through this."
"Ahhhhh get it out getitoutgetitout!"
"Chiana don't go I think I may need you to help."
"But..."
"If you keep quiet, I'll be civilaahhhhhhhhhh."
"Calm down Aeryn, just push and it'll be over soon. Just push."
"Can't you just cut it out Zhaan?"
"Not unless it becomes necessary...for health reasons"
"What if I said that I think it will."
"Woaw Aeryn, honey. What gives you that idea?"
"Because if you tell me to push one more time I'm going to rip your head off!"
"Hey I'm only trying to help."
"If you had wanted to help, you should have never let met get into this condition in the first place."
"Hey darlin' I wasn't exactly the only one participating in that activity."
"No but you started it!"
"Yeah but as I recall, you were the one who pounced..."
"OK. That's a little more detail than I ever wanted to know about your sex life."
"Jealous Pip?"
"Trust me Crichton, if I had wanted to pounce on you, I would have...but looking at her I can tell you I'm glad I didn't."
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Zhaan I think I'm ready. NOW!"
"That's' very well Aeryn, but I don't think that baby is."
"Crichton I'm never letting you near me again!"
"Come on baby, just pu..."
"I mean it Crichton...and if you say that one moreaaahhhh..."
"I'm not that easy to get rid of Sunshine...you should know that by now."
"Ahhhhhhhh. PleasegetitoutgetitoutGETITOUT"
3arns later
"Aeryn you have to stop pushing for a minute honey...Aeryn honey...Zhaan needs to..."
"I don't give a frell! Just get it out!"
1 arn later
"Ahhhhh."
"OK Aeryn I think the baby is ready."
"Well, it's about frelling time!"
"OK Aeryn it's time to..."
"Don't say it, OK, just don't say it."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow...she's so little."
"By the Goddess. She's beautiful."
"Well with parents like that she certainly did quite well."
"Chiana."
"What?... Wow...she's so little."
"Well I suppose I wouldn't mind sharing some of my food with it."
"Her, Rygel not it."
"She's amazing Crichton, Aeryn."
"Thanks big guy."
"Wow...she's so little."
"Chiana?"
"What? I never seen a baby before."
"I think we should leave her with her parents for a while."
"Of course. Crichton, Aeryn, I have something to give her later, it is not quite finished yet."
"I also have something for the child. After all it is in the Hynerian tradition to...oomph."
"Can it froggie. Can I hold her later...I mean if that's OK..."
"Yes Pip you can hold her later."
"Thanks. Let's go your highness."
"Hmph...what is a froggie?"
"I don't know...something from Earth I think."
"I shall come back to check on you later my dear. Make sure you get some rest."
"I will."
"And if she doesn't, I can try a Pantac jab...I kinda owe her one...oomph."
"I will Zhaan, don't worry."
"Come sweet D'Argo."
"OfficerSun, Commander Crichton. Moya and I would like to express our most heartfelt wishes for you both and for your beautiful daughter. We shall do whatever is in our power to protect her."
"Thanks Pilot. That's one of the kindest things anyone's ever said to me."
"Yes thank you Pilot. And thank you for your watchful eye while I was pregnant."
"I...I don't know what you mean..."
"It's alright Pilot. It made me feel safe to know you were watching over me and it made me feel grateful to have such a good friend."
"Thank you AerynSun...I should not have underestimated you. I should have realized that you would know."
"It's alright Pilot. Thank you again...and thank Moya too. I know this must be painful for her. She must be thinking about Talyn a lot."
"She is."
~~~~~~
When they were finally alone, John turned to Aeryn, who was now holding their baby girl in her arms looking down at her with awe.
"Worth the pain?" Aeryn looked into John's eyes and smiled.
"Ask me that tomorrow."
"So...is it safe to make contact...or should I have Zhaan on standby?"
"Come here."
He leaned forward a kissed her forehead before pulling himself onto the bed and positioning himself so that she lay back into him.
"So what d'ya think we should call her?"
"I don't know...you?"
"Few idea's...nothing I really have my heart set on though."
"Then I have an idea."
~~~~~~~
"You were always there for me. Even when I didn't want you to be...especially when I didn't want you to be! You changed my life with four simple words, "You can be more." And although I may have resented you in the beginning, I could never go back to what I was, and I no longer wish to. I'm not going to say that I love you John...because I don't...what I feel for you goes much deeper than that one word could possibly stand for. You are a part of me and I want that to last eternally."
"You were difficult. So difficult that sometimes I nearly gave up. But then I would look at how much we had both changed. Everyday you showed me that you could be more than you were. And in doing that you showed me that I could too. When I finally realized how much I needed you, how much you were a part of me, I knew that my life would never be the same again...and I didn't want it to be. You are a part of my essence, my soul and I want that to last eternally."
"By the love that you have for each other and the trust in us as your friends I now proclaim you one in each other."
A blue light emanated from Zhaan. It circled the group and then entered the circle to settle around the couple in the middle and they were eternally bound, heart and soul.
~~~~~~~~~
"Yo Pilot."
"Hello Pilot."
"CommanderCrichton, OfficerSun...I mean Officer Crichton." Aeryn scrunched up her nose.
"Pilot, do you think you could call me Aeryn? Please?"
"I would like that very much...Aeryn."
"What's wrong with my name darlin'?"
"Nothing, I'd just prefer it if Pilot called me Aeryn...besides I only have your name now because I lost that bet."
"Yeah well, you can't win 'em all Sunshine."
"How is you daughter today?" Aeryn smiled at Pilot, then looked down at the small child in her arms.
"She is in need of a name."
"So Pilot, what have you and Moya come up with?"
"Before I tell you, Moya and I would like you to know how honored we were that you asked us to name your daughter."
"Just returning the favor...and allowing us to let you know how much we value your friendship and for me to thank you for watching over me."
"So Pilot, what's she called."
"Ilyana-Rose."
~~~~~~~~~
"So D'Argo what's with all the secrecy?"
"Nothing I just wanted to put this in your quarters before you saw it."
The crew had each given Ilyana-Rose a gift during the days since she was born, except for D'Argo who they had hardly seen since their wedding.
"You may tell me if you do not like it...I will not be offended." John smiled as D'Argo's every word betrayed what he was saying.
"I'm sure we'll love it big guy." With that he entered their quarters, followed closely by Aeryn, who was holding Ilyana-Rose, and D'Argo.
"D'Argo! This is beautiful."
"Wow, I don't know what to say. Thanks just doesn't seem to cover it."
On the left hand side wall there was a beautifully hand crafted cot and playpen and across the top, in golden writing was written Ilyana-Rose.
~~~~~~~
As he placed the little girl into her cot, he felt more content that he ever had before. He flipped on his tape recorder for the last time.
"Hey dad...I guess this is the end of the line. I'm surprised the batteries lasted this long, never mind the tape space. I'm happy dad. For the first time in my life I'm truly, undeniably happy. I wish you could meet Ilyana-Rose and Aeryn. How does it feel to be a Grampa? I wish I could ask you that. You'd like Aeryn you know. She feisty, beautiful, intelligent, amazing...her hair just falls around her face in the most beautiful way, when she lets it, she has this smile that just makes you forget everything, and I feel that I could drown in her eyes. Rosie has her eyes, and her hair. I wish you could meet them, I think you might just be..."
There was a click as the tape ended.
"...proud of me." He whispered.
"I'm sure he misses you too, John." He whirled around to face Aeryn.
"Hey. I didn't know you were there."
"I know."
"I miss him."
"I know." There was a pause as they stared at each other.
"So," he broke the silence with a grin she first remembered seeing when he pinned her against a wall all those months ago, "Officer Crichton...what made you pounce on me...I never did ask that."
She paused before smiling back, "You lit a fire in me." He stepped closer to her brushing his arm along her side as he did. Again she felt that tingling that only he could do to her and she smiled into his eyes.
"Don't you know it's dangerous to play with fire?"
He kissed her softly.
"I guess I'll just have to burn."
PLEASE GIVE ME FEEDBACK!!!!
OK I know that probably wasn't up to much but I hope you all liked it anyway.