I want to thank everybody who has reviewed, read and liked my story. I have always wanted to write and the positive feedback I have gotten from you has given me the encouragement I need.

Thank you.

Now, on to the last chapter... I promised myself I wouldn't cry... Excuse me for a moment.... sob sob

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2157 – Three years later

"Sir" Hoshi spoke up from her station. "The shuttle pod is on sensors."

"Already?" Jon asked. "They are three hours early. Open a channel." Hoshi did so.

"Shuttle Pod Three, this is Enterprise. You're a little early. We weren't expecting you back from your survey for another three hours."

"Tucker here sir. We had to come back early. There was a small accident on the cliffs. Two of the away team need medical attention. Ah'm going back for the rest later."

"Who was injured?" Jon asked concerned.

"Lieutenant Reed, Sir."

"Which one?"

The entire bridge crew could hear the amusement in Trip's voice.

"Both of them sir."

"It's not funny Trip" Alex said in the background. She was sitting next to Malcolm, studiously ignoring him. It was all his fault! She heard the laughter in Trip's voice, and she could swear that the Captain coughed to cover a laugh. Typical!

"I'll have Phlox meet you in the shuttle bay" Jon told them. His ribs hurt from trying not to laugh. Alex was as bad as Malcolm for getting injured! "Enterprise out."

Jon couldn't help it. As soon as Hoshi cut the comm. he let out a great yell of laughter along with most of the Bridge crew. Even T'Pol looked amused.

"Tell Phlox to meet the shuttle." Jon said to Hoshi and left the bridge.

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By the time Jon reached sickbay, the two Lieutenants were in bio-beds next to each other, glaring at each other. Trip was standing to one side, trying, and failing miserably, to hide his amusement at the situation.

Alex had an assortment of cuts and bruises on her body. She had one large gash on her forehead, and a swollen ankle. Malcolm had the same collection of cuts and bruises, only he had a swollen wrist. They weren't talking, and occasionally were throwing glares at each other.

"What happened?" Jon asked them.

"We were testing the caves that we scanned for traces of galacite to strengthen the warp core" Trip began.

(A/N I'm not that technical, but I remember an episode of Voyager where they were looking for galacite to strengthen the warp core stability or something. I can't remember the exact term. This may be too advanced for a warp five engine, but if it works... use it)

"Alex was scanning out on a ledge..."

"When I noticed the ledge was unsafe" Malcolm interrupted. "I asked her to move away, but she wouldn't. Typical Irish stubbornness..."

"Don't even go there Britain" Alex warned, but Malcolm continued as if she hadn't spoken.

"I went to get her, and the ledge collapsed. We fell about twenty feet down a steep slope."

"The ledge was stable with just me on it" muttered Alex.

"It was not!! It collapsed, taking the two of us with it."

"It was your fault! If you hadn't walked onto the ledge, it wouldn't have collapsed."

"My fault!?! If you..."

Jon was used to their bickering, and successfully tuned it out. He turned to Trip.

"What actually happened Trip?"

"It happened just like they said, only Ah'm not choosing sides as to whose fault it was. Ah value my life too much. It was interesting though. As soon as the dust settled, and they saw where they were, they were all concerned about each other. Alex practically sprinted to Malcolm's side, sprained ankle and all. But, as soon as they saw the other person wasn't too badly damaged, they started yelling at each other. It was very funny."

"You know, I've never seen one couple fight so much, but they would easily die for the other."

Trip unsuccessfully tried to hide his snort of amusement.

"What?" Jon asked.

"You think they fight much? How about you and Lisa? Ah swear sometimes, if she didn't love you so much, she'd kill you. Malcolm was giving her self- defense lessons, and he told me that your wife sure packs one mean punch."

Jon had the grace to blush a little.

The fighting in the background had reached ear splitting level, and Dr. Phlox had had enough.

"Alright you two?" he told the two Lieutenants, as if he was speaking to naughty children. "If you don't stop fighting right now I'm going to sedate you both for the next five hours. Is that understood?" He held up two hypo- sprays to show he wasn't bluffing, and Malcolm and Alex lapsed into angry silence.

Malcolm glared at Alex. She should be more careful! His heart had missed a few beats until she moved after the fall. He couldn't loose her again. Every day with her was magical, but he always lived in the fear that somehow he would end up without her again.

Alex was livid. Malcolm treated her like such a child sometimes! She wasn't made of glass. She wouldn't break if she fell. He was so... so... worried. The realization hit her right between the eyes. He was worried he would loose her again. Nothing was ever going to separate them, even death, didn't he understand that? She'd haunt him until his dying day, and vice versa.

Alex looked over at him. He had been hurt trying to save her. She was right: the ledge would have held if he hadn't come over, but he came because he was worried about her safety. He was so sweet sometimes...

She slid of the bed, and hobbled the short distance to his.

"Truce?" she asked. Malcolm glared at her, before his face softened at the look in her eyes.

"Truce" he agreed. "I'm sorry I yelled, it's just..."

"You were worried about me." Alex finished for him. "I'm sorry too. When we fell, I was terrified you were seriously hurt. When you weren't, I was angry at you for endangering yourself."

"Same here love." Malcolm wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and they both settled onto the bio-bed.

"There, that's more like it" Phlox said as he came over to join them. "I've scanned you both. Neither of you is seriously injured. You'll be fine in a few days. Oh, by the way Lieutenant" Phlox said turning to Alex, "The baby is just fine. Everything is normal."

Malcolm and Alex both froze.

"Baby?" Alex whispered.

"Yes." Phlox said. "You are two months pregnant. I assumed you knew since you are so far along."

"I didn't know" Alex was stunned. A baby. She was going to have a baby. She stole a quick glance at Malcolm. He looked as if he had been hit over the head with a torpedo. He looked back at her.

"You're pregnant? YOU'RE PREGNANT?"

"Well, it is a side effect of what we do at every available opportunity. (A/N Come on, use your imagination.) Are you angry?" Alex asked incredulously, a little hurt by his tone.

"Angry? No! I have never been happier in my life!" he exclaimed. He jumped of the bio-bed, heedful of his sprained wrist, and swept her up into his arms. "We're having a baby!" he shouted. Alex laughed and hugged him close. It was amazing just how much she loved this man.

A sudden thought struck Alex.

"Our kids are going to be the same age" she thought out loud.

"What?" Malcolm asked, confused.

"Mine and Lisa's..." She got no farther.

"What!!!" Jon shouted from across the room. "My wife is pregnant?"

"Sir..." Alex was horrified. She had forgotten he and Trip were there. Damnit! Lisa was going to kill her! She only thought she was going to have a baby. Shit!

"Sir, Lisa wasn't sure. She thought she was. She was going check with the Doctor soon."

An expression that could only be described as pure joy crossed Jon's features.

"Lisa's pregnant." He said almost to himself. "I'm going to be a father... Gotta go" With that, he ran from sickbay, stopping only to call the bridge to ask Hoshi to locate Lisa Archer.

Trip had a huge grin on his face. He came over, and kissed Alex (who was still in Malcolm's arms) on the cheek, and clapped his friend on the back.

"Congratulations." He told them. As he walked out the door, he shouted back over his shoulder...

"I expect to be god-father."

Malcolm hugged his wife closer to him. How he loved her.

"We're having a baby"

"We'll be a family" Alex added, just before she kissed him.

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2164 – Seven years later

The Federation Starship Liberty hung in geo-synchronous orbit around the purple and blue planet. The ship practically gleamed newness, and its crew were bristling with efficiency. On the bridge of the Liberty, its captain, Malcolm Reed stood with his hands linked behind his back.

Outwardly, he exuded competence and stability. They had served with him for only a short time, but the crew knew that his reputation for his dedication to his crew and his abilities as a tactician was well deserved. He was a rock in times of turmoil. He was calm.

Inwardly, Malcolm had to restrain the urge to jump up and down with excitement. He was a Captain! Starfleet had actually given him his own ship. The idiots! Maintaining his calm and passive façade, he marveled at his first mission. It had to be more than a coincidence that he was the Captain that supervised the introduction of the Barcarnians to the fledgling Federation. He suspected that a certain Admiral had a hand in this. For the first time, he was about to set foot on Barcarnia.

"Sir" Ensign Frasier spoke up from his station. "Receiving word from the planet. They are ready for you and the Ambassador."

"Thank you Ensign" he said, resisting the urge to tug at the collar of his dress uniform. He hated formal wear. "I'll go get the Ambassador." A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Ambassador my foot! He turned to his first officer.

"Commander Mayweather, you're with me" and he walked towards the turbo lift, his first officer falling into step beside him. Once they were in the lift, he turned to her.

"Thanks again for doing this Hoshi. I really appreciate it."

Hoshi smiled.

"No problem Malcolm. The more the merrier."

"And I suppose the extra four days leave I'm giving you for doing this helps also?" Malcolm teased.

"It doesn't hurt" Hoshi laughed.

"How is Travis anyway?"

"He's fine sir. He's delighted to be on Enterprise again. He keeps comparing the size of his quarters to the ones he used to have years back. He keeps saying stupid things like 'Rank hath its privileges' and 'It pays to be the first officer.' He's even happier to be working with Trip... I mean Captain Tucker again. By the way, are you two talking again?"

Malcolm laughed. "We're fine. I've forgiven him for trying to steal my Chief Engineer." When Trip had tried to get Alex to re-locate to Enterprise, Malcolm and he had had one hell of an argument, but Alex decided to stay on Liberty. Trip and Malcolm had eventually made up, and had re-bonded over a bottle of bourbon – a classic. Alex was as mad as hell at his hangover the next morning, but it was worth it.

The turbo lift opened and Hoshi and Malcolm headed down the corridor.

"Bonded over a bottle on bourbon, didn't you?" Hoshi smiled.

"Of course." Malcolm grinned. "He let something slip when he was... a bit merry. He's thinking of finally making an honest woman out of T'Pol."

"Finally! They only have been together for eleven years!"

"Well, Trip spent some time with Admiral Archer and Lisa and their kids in San Francisco, and he got to know the twins. I think he's wanting kids of his own, preferably ones as bright and funny as Henry and Connor Archer."

"Well, I hope it works out for him. I'll be looking forward to the wedding."

They reached the Ambassadors quarters, and Malcolm thumbed the door control. The door opened and a dark blur of speed flung itself at Malcolm.

"Daddy!!!" Six year-old Duncan Reed shouted as his father swung him up in his arms. Duncan was a perfect replica of his father, with dark brown hair and stormy blue eyes. Malcolm hugged him close, and thought his heart would burst with love when Duncan hugged him back.

Duncan saw who was standing behind his father, and squirmed to get down.

"Auntie Hoshi!!!" he shouted, and held his arms up for a hug. Hoshi gladly hugged him back.

"Daddy?" a small voice asked from around the corner.

"Hi Princess" Malcolm said, sweeping three-year-old Allana into his arms. "How's my little girl today?"

"Daddy, I saw you this morning!"

"I know. I missed you thought."

"I missed you too Daddy" she told him, and snuggled into his arms.

"Daddy?" she asked him.

"Yes love?"

"Is mummy really a ambada?"

"Mummy is an ambassador honey" he told her. "She talks to the people on Barcarnia for Starfleet"

"Oh" she giggled.

"Where is the Ambassador?" Malcolm asked his daughter.

"The Ambassador is having trouble fitting into her dress uniform" came a voice from the bedroom. "I knew I should have had the seams let out more." Malcolm walked through the open door, and saw Alex struggling to get her dress uniform on over her six-month pregnancy bump.

"Hey Bumpy" Malcolm said, setting his daughter on her feet and embracing his wife. He stretched his arms to encompass the baby, and hugged them both. Alex rolled her eyes at the nick-name.

"Malcolm" she began. "Every time I'm pregnant, you call me Bumpy. And every time you do I ask you not to."

"But you love it really." Malcolm retorted. Alex just rolled her eyes, and kissed him lightly on the lips. It was pointless to argue with him when he was in Happy Prospective Father Mode.

"Dad." Duncan asked from the doorway. "Why is mummy an Amb...Am... Ambassador?"

Malcolm smiled at his son's attempt at the word and got down to eye level to speak with him.

"Because, years ago, Mummy was on Barcarnia, so she knows the people. And, do you remember when Daddy and the Leader from Trell were fighting a few months ago?" Duncan nodded sagely. "Well, Admiral Archer was impressed with how your mummy stopped us from fighting. So, he asked her to represent the Federation when we went to Barcarnia."

"But what about us?" Allana asked in a small voice.

"You are going to stay with me" Hoshi said. "Yashiko and Melissa are making room in their bedrooms, and getting their games out."

"Yay!" both children yelled. Yashiko and Melissa were Hoshi and Travis's children, and were around the same age as Duncan and Allana, so they were friends. They relished the opportunity to play together for such a prolonged period of time.

"Come on Ambassador" Malcolm said, holding out his arm to escort Alex to the transporter room. "We don't want to be late."

"Certainly Captain" Alex answered. Hoshi laughed at their formality and both Reed's grinned. They kissed their children goodbye, and left for the transporter room.

Anyone who saw the two of them together had to smile. Malcolm had one arm under her elbow, keeping her on balance. Alex leaned gratefully on him, and every now and then Malcolm would rub her belly lovingly. They were the epitome of the loving couple.

They beamed down to the planet together. A reception committee met them, and was headed by David, one of the humans who had stayed behind on Barcarnia all those years ago. He ran forward to greet them, and he and Alex embraced fondly. They had stayed in contact. His eyes widened when he saw her condition.

"You're pregnant again!" he exclaimed.

"That I am. Let me introduce the sailor who got me in this condition" Alex laughed. "Malcolm, meet David Deans. David, this is Captain Malcolm Reed, my husband."

The two men shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries. Alex looked past them to the gathered people waiting to meet them. She was nervous, and gulped nervously. Malcolm, sensing her nerves, took her hand in his.

Together they walked forward, giving each other the support they needed, like they always did.

THE END

Or is it?????.....

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I can't believe I'm finished. Damn. I got really attached to the characters. I'm not sure about the ending. What do you think? Should I change it?

Please review.

Thank you all again for all the reviews and support you've given me since I've started it.

Keep a look out for more fictions form me in the future, and a continuation on 'What a Difference A Day Makes'