A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first three chapters. I'm incorporating some of your suggestions in this chapter. I know, it's short, but you get to find out who the father is!
Hoshi wouldn't have expected T'Pol to make an appeal, but there she was, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, telling her that she wished to speak of a private matter. She gave her consent.
"It is inevitable that you will discover who the father of your child is. Perhaps it will be obvious soon after the infant is born, and you will see it's eyes are exact duplicates of Commander Tucker's. Alternatively, it could be several years, and you would discover that, like Lieutenant Reed, the child is allergic to pineapple." This was the most awkward conversation T'Pol had ever initiated, but she felt compelled to speak as she was a friend to all involved. This was a role that she navigated carefully. "Additionally, there is a lengthy process of legal recourse should either the Lieutenant or Commander wish to pursue it, though I doubt either would go against your wishes so directly." It was surprisingly difficult for her to tell the younger woman this, but it was apparently an aspect of human friendship she had simply not encountered before.
"Et tu, T'Pol?"
"Indeed."
Hoshi considered for a moment how to respond, but the truth burst forth. T'Pol could be trusted. "I'm afraid. What if I find out who's the father, but he's killed on an away mission or it ruins all the relationships we've created?"
"You will never have to raise your child alone, if that is what you fear."
"That's part of it."
"The entire crew will aid you. Both Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed have expressed their desire to support you in any manner you wish. As to the relationships you refer to, I believe that they will be best served by the truth."
"I'm afraid, T'Pol."
She didn't know how to respond to that. "The truth is not to be feared."
"It's not that easy."
"I did not say that the truth is easy. On the contrary, it is often the most difficult path to choose. However, it is the most worthwhile, and over the course of time the wisest choice."
"That's what Doctor Phlox said, too." T'Pol said nothing. Sometimes she didn't understand how that Vulcan mind of hers worked. "I should go see him now, before I lose my nerve."
"If you need my assistance, I will always help you to the best of my abilities."
"Thanks, T'Pol. I needed to hear this." For all that she claimed not to understand humans, T'Pol knew when to speak her piece and when to leave. Hoshi appreciated that immensely.
"You are welcome." The two women stepped out into the corridor and walked in opposite directions.
"What's taking them so long?" Hoshi growled, pacing Sickbay.
"When the ship was designed, neither Engineering or the Armory were placed close to Sickbay. Considering that most of my patients come from those two locations, I believe that to be a design flaw."
"Finally!" They somehow managed to walk in the door at the same time.
"You've waited eight weeks and now you can't wait five minutes?" Trip said.
"Are you ready?" asked Doctor Phlox.
"Hurry up before I change my mind!"
"Very well."
"Wait!" Trip and Malcolm almost screamed when she cried out that. "Tell us the sex first." Relieved that she hadn't changed her mind, the three men began to breath again. Although Phlox suddenly wished he had practiced a way to tell the trio before him.
"Ensign, you are carrying a healthy daughter. She is, without a doubt, Lieutenant Reed's child."
It was Trip who was the first to speak. "Congratulations."
"Trip," said Hoshi, "I still want you to be close. Uncle Trip, maybe?"
"Godfather?" suggested Malcolm.
"I'd be honored. But you two- this is right. Hoshi, I see ya more like a sister. I mean, when I found out I might be the father, I didn't know what I wanted. Hell, I'm not sure what I mean. Just- this is right."
She gave him a hug. "Thank you."
Then he was gone, and Phlox had somehow disappeared, and she and Malcolm were left alone. Malcolm, the father of her daughter.
"A girl," he mused.
"If you..."
"Let's just enjoy it like this for today. We're having a daughter. Tomorrow, we can think about it more."
When they had left, Phlox turned to his bat. "What do you think of that? Humans are full of surprises."
Hoshi wouldn't have expected T'Pol to make an appeal, but there she was, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, telling her that she wished to speak of a private matter. She gave her consent.
"It is inevitable that you will discover who the father of your child is. Perhaps it will be obvious soon after the infant is born, and you will see it's eyes are exact duplicates of Commander Tucker's. Alternatively, it could be several years, and you would discover that, like Lieutenant Reed, the child is allergic to pineapple." This was the most awkward conversation T'Pol had ever initiated, but she felt compelled to speak as she was a friend to all involved. This was a role that she navigated carefully. "Additionally, there is a lengthy process of legal recourse should either the Lieutenant or Commander wish to pursue it, though I doubt either would go against your wishes so directly." It was surprisingly difficult for her to tell the younger woman this, but it was apparently an aspect of human friendship she had simply not encountered before.
"Et tu, T'Pol?"
"Indeed."
Hoshi considered for a moment how to respond, but the truth burst forth. T'Pol could be trusted. "I'm afraid. What if I find out who's the father, but he's killed on an away mission or it ruins all the relationships we've created?"
"You will never have to raise your child alone, if that is what you fear."
"That's part of it."
"The entire crew will aid you. Both Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed have expressed their desire to support you in any manner you wish. As to the relationships you refer to, I believe that they will be best served by the truth."
"I'm afraid, T'Pol."
She didn't know how to respond to that. "The truth is not to be feared."
"It's not that easy."
"I did not say that the truth is easy. On the contrary, it is often the most difficult path to choose. However, it is the most worthwhile, and over the course of time the wisest choice."
"That's what Doctor Phlox said, too." T'Pol said nothing. Sometimes she didn't understand how that Vulcan mind of hers worked. "I should go see him now, before I lose my nerve."
"If you need my assistance, I will always help you to the best of my abilities."
"Thanks, T'Pol. I needed to hear this." For all that she claimed not to understand humans, T'Pol knew when to speak her piece and when to leave. Hoshi appreciated that immensely.
"You are welcome." The two women stepped out into the corridor and walked in opposite directions.
"What's taking them so long?" Hoshi growled, pacing Sickbay.
"When the ship was designed, neither Engineering or the Armory were placed close to Sickbay. Considering that most of my patients come from those two locations, I believe that to be a design flaw."
"Finally!" They somehow managed to walk in the door at the same time.
"You've waited eight weeks and now you can't wait five minutes?" Trip said.
"Are you ready?" asked Doctor Phlox.
"Hurry up before I change my mind!"
"Very well."
"Wait!" Trip and Malcolm almost screamed when she cried out that. "Tell us the sex first." Relieved that she hadn't changed her mind, the three men began to breath again. Although Phlox suddenly wished he had practiced a way to tell the trio before him.
"Ensign, you are carrying a healthy daughter. She is, without a doubt, Lieutenant Reed's child."
It was Trip who was the first to speak. "Congratulations."
"Trip," said Hoshi, "I still want you to be close. Uncle Trip, maybe?"
"Godfather?" suggested Malcolm.
"I'd be honored. But you two- this is right. Hoshi, I see ya more like a sister. I mean, when I found out I might be the father, I didn't know what I wanted. Hell, I'm not sure what I mean. Just- this is right."
She gave him a hug. "Thank you."
Then he was gone, and Phlox had somehow disappeared, and she and Malcolm were left alone. Malcolm, the father of her daughter.
"A girl," he mused.
"If you..."
"Let's just enjoy it like this for today. We're having a daughter. Tomorrow, we can think about it more."
When they had left, Phlox turned to his bat. "What do you think of that? Humans are full of surprises."