Title: Surprise Surprise

Chapter 12: Four and a Half Monen Surprise

Rated: R

***

John stood outside the small medical bay on Talyn. Jool was examining Aeryn and had kicked him out.
D'Argo and Cassandra had gone to the central chamber for food, and Crais was in Command directing
Talyn back to Moya. He could hear voices but no words. He paced. Just when he was about to burst
into the chamber, Jool came out.

"Jool!" John grabbed her, making sure that her attention was on him.

"She's fine, John. She just needs rest and food."

John let her go and quietly asked, "The baby?" He didn't really want to know. He was almost hoping
that it would die since it was probably G'lin's child.

"Is doing much better than its mother. All the food Aeryn had been eating went to the baby. It's
healthy and there shouldn't be any complications with the pregnancy." Jool paused a moment in
thought. "Of course there has never been a Sebacean/Human hybrid before so I'm basing my opinion on
what I know of Sebacean physiology." She turned to John, not noticing the shocked expression on his
face. "I need to know everything you can tell me about Human pregnancies... no... never mind, I
can ask Cassandra." Jool left John standing dumbstruck in the hallway.

John stared after her, opening and closing his mouth but no sound came out. The talkative Human had
been rendered speechless. When he did finally manage to say something, Jool was long gone. "I'm going
to be a dad?"

John ran into the medical bay to see Aeryn asleep on the one bed in the room. He approached her
cautiously, hoping he wouldn't wake her. He watched her sleep; her beautiful face relaxed in
exhaustion. He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He sat up slightly as she stirred
and opened her eyes.

"John?"

"Hey, baby." He caressed her face, brushing aside a strand of dark hair. He leaned over again, and
their lips touched in a gentle kiss.

Aeryn took his hand and placed it on her swelling stomach. She looked at him with serious eyes. "Are you
happy about this?"

A grin split his face. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

Aeryn smiled back at him. "I'm happy too." Her eyes watered with happy tears, and she clutched him to
her. "I missed you." She kissed him desperately. "I love you, John."

"Aeryn, baby, I love you too." The kissed spiraled out of control, and John stretched out on top of
her. Their kisses were desperate and at the same time portrayed a very real sense of relief. John
gentled the kiss and slowed their frantic pace. "I'll be right back," he whispered against her
mouth. He stood and shut the door to the small bay. He helped Aeryn rid herself of her clothes and
stripped. Their lovemaking was slow and full of passion, erasing all the misery they had been in when
they were separated.

***

"So how long is a Sebacean pregnancy?" Cassandra asked. Jool's news had lifted the guilt and sadness
in her heart. She was happily telling everything she knew about Human pregnancies.

"About four and a half monens."

"WHAT?!" Cassandra yelped. "That's not fair! Human pregnancies last NINE MONENS!"

Jool frowned. "That means Aeryn's pregnancy is probably going to be longer than the average Sebacean."

"I can't believe this," Cassandra grumbled. "Why the hell do Sebaceans get a four and a half monen
pregnancy? Who put them on top of the damn delivery room list?"

***

~fin~

WELL... what did ya think? Please review or send me an e-mail!

Thanks to the peps that reviewed! I really enjoyed hearing from you!

oh, yeah, i forgot, i had an idea to continue this theme, yes? no? should i write it? does anyone want
to hear what happened to them in the future? review or send me an e-mail and let me know!

~Artemis Luna Diana~

FINISHED: NOVEMBER 26, 2001 2:26PM