Chapter 9

After she had finished bandaging John's leg and all their various cuts and bruises, John insisted that Jool check to make sure that the baby was OK.

"The poor thing's lost two of its lives already and it's not even born yet"

Aeryn seemed to have recovered remarkably well from her ordeal, which she accepted with the equanimity of someone who has stopped being surprised by what the universe kept throwing at them. However, she stayed as close to John as possible and when he laid his hand over her stomach possessively she simply laid hers on top, looked him in the eye and nodded. He felt a great weight lift off his shoulders as he knew she was on the road to accepting that she was going to become a mother.

"I love you so much"

"I love you to" she replied. They made their way towards Jool and her scanner

"Why didn't you tell me that doctor had to remove Aeryn's IC?" Jool asked as she prepared the machine

"IC?"

"Implanted contraceptive"

"So that's what he was talking about. Oops"

"I'll give you oops, John Crichton" Aeryn hit him playfully in the ribs, although with Aeryn even playful packed a pretty mean punch

"Ow. How was I to know? I'm just a stupid human and a guy at that. That's girls stuff" They both gave him a look. "Besides I was somewhat preoccupied with keeping you alive and out of Peacekeeper hands at the time" Aeryn ignored this excuse and carried on

"Do you know yet why I've been so sick, Jool?"

"No, I can't find anything about it in Moya's medical files on sebacean pregnancy"

"Um, I think that I may be able to shed some light on that as well" John admitted somewhat sheepishly. Both ladies turned to look at him "morning sickness is a common side effect in human pregnancy"

"You mean it really is your fault? Don't tell me it will happen all the way through?"

"No, usually just for the first few months, er monens"

"Well that's something at least. I'm surprised your species reproduce at all if this is what you have to go through. I'm not sure I can stand another day of it, let another 8 monens"

"Now this is where I get my brownie points 'cos human pregnancies are only 9 monens."

"Really?" said Jool, always interested in new knowledge "Well, that certainly helps me in trying to work out when the baby might be born. Anyway, everything seems OK on the scan. You guys want to look?"

For once in his life John Crichton was actually quiet. He gazed in awed wonder at the tiny figure on the scan, it's heart beating ten to the dozen. He squeezed Aeryn's hand tightly as tears formed in his eyes

"Wow, look what we did, babe" he breathed quietly in her ear "we actually made a life. Isn't that so much better than just taking them?"

"Yes, I think it might be" her voice was a choked whisper. He coughed and recovered himself.

"So, don't you think it's about time we told everyone. I mean, they're gonna start noticing soon" he laid his hand over the slight roundness of her stomach. Aeryn looked at Jool, a guilty expression on her face.

"Well, I've already told Pilot because I thought he had a right to know, what with the DNA thing. And Chiana overheard Jool and I talking earlier so she knows as well." John assumed a mock-serious expression

"So you mean I've been holding myself back all this time and you've practically told everyone already?"

"I haven't told D'Argo" John's expression switched to guilty as well as he remembered his conversation with D'Argo that morning

"Oh, damn, hoisted by my own petard. I happened to let it slip whilst we were on that planet today"

"Well then, it seems that Rygel is the only one that doesn't know"

"Ha, I can't wait to see his face when he realises that rations are gonna have to be split seven ways instead of six. Let's go and break the good news to Sparky, darlin'!"

They left themed bay arm in arm, laughing as they went.

THE END

(Thanks for all the feedback, especially to Anna - glad you liked it)