A/N: Finally, the conclusion is ready! This story really snowballed and took on a life of its own, in part with the help of my readers. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me, and I hope you find the last chapter satisfactory.

"Doctor," said Hoshi Sato through gritted teeth, "your readings on giving birth neglected to mention that it hurts so much!"

"Now, Ensign, your daughter is almost here. I'm sure that you will consider the pain minimal once you see her."

In all truth, dealing with Hoshi was the least of Phlox's worries. His wives had expressed similar sentiments and he was used to that. Lieutenant Reed wasn't even bad. As nervous fathers go, he was supportive and kept his own impatience fairly well disguised. Over the past three hours he had lent Hoshi his hand to squeeze (something that might need medical investigation after Anne was born) and listened to her tirades on what men got out of without any sarcastic replies. It was the rest of the crew that made the doctor want to cut all comm links.

Commander Tucker had spent the past three hours in Sickbay pacing. He was outside of the curtained area around Hoshi's bed, and every time Phlox left the enclave the commander was instantly by his side, asking how much longer it would take. Were it not for the unique aspects to the conception of Anne Sato Reed, the doctor would have banished Tucker not long into the first hour of Hoshi's labor. Additionally, he kept asking for ways to help. It seemed to Phlox that he'd made it clear the first time Tucker asked that there wasn't much an engineer could do in delivering a baby in a perfectly well-equipped Sickbay.

Commander Tucker wasn't the only one, however. Every twenty minutes Captain Archer would page from the bridge and ask for a progress report. "Babies make their own timetable, Captain," he'd said. Archer didn't seem content with this and continued his request for updates.

Sub-Commander T'Pol had the good sense to simply request that he would "notify her when Ensign Sato and Lieutenant Reed's daughter is born." That was preferable to continually pestering him for reports. While T'Pol herself was not always an ideal patient, she was made an ideal patient's friend.

Most of the female crewmembers had found various reasons to stop by Sickbay and offer words of encouragement. Phlox was thinking of simply making a shipwide announcement when Anne was born. It would save a lot of trouble.

Word had gotten out quickly that the unconventional family would be leaving Enterprise. They were a week away from Earth, and after leave Reed would take over as Weaponry Division Leader at Starfleet Research and Development. Sato had planned to retire from Starfleet, but had been talked into a leave of absence and, following that, a teaching position at Starfleet Academy. Teaching the best and the brightest elementary Andorian, advanced exolinguistics, and advanced Vulcan had been too good an offer to resist.

Knowing this, Lieutenant Hess had put together a post-baby shower. This way everyone could see Anne before she left. Commander Tucker was also working on a goodbye party for her parents.

That thought brought Phlox a moment of sadness. Ensign Mayweather had always held great enthusiasm for parties, and there was hardly a party on board that he hadn't helped plan in some way or another. It had been just a few weeks since the young man died, and the pain of his loss was still acute. Reed, and Tucker to a lesser degree, still felt guilt over his sacrifice.

Still, it was a time to celebrate life. Anne was going to be a healthy baby, and, despite the impatience of the entire crew, her delivery was progressing splendidly.

"Archer to Sickbay." Had it been twenty minutes already?

"Phlox here, Captain. I assume you would like another update?"

"Yes, thank you." This time, the captain managed to sound just a little sheepish.

"Everything is going fine. I expect Anne to be born in the next hour."

"Another hour?" groaned Commander Tucker, fortunately not loud enough for anyone but Phlox to hear.

"Excellent. How's Hoshi doing?"

"Currently, she is informing Lieutenant Reed of how fortunate he is that women carry children."

Archer chuckled. "I'll remember that. Thank you Doctor."

"Of course, Captain. Sickbay out."

"Argh!" cried his patient suddenly.

"What's the matter?" Malcolm Reed clearly had the worrying part of his role down. Then again, he'd never lacked in that department.

"That was by far the worst one yet." Yes, Phlox thought, the delivery was progressing nicely.

At last Anne was bundled in her mother's arms and the announcement had been made to the whole ship (with the parents' permission, of course). Phlox was just going to keep them in Sickbay for a few more minutes, but went off to the other side of Sickbay to give the new family some privacy.

He was just dropping food in to his bat's cage when he noticed a most interesting event. Clearly thinking that he wouldn't be seen (and Phlox really saw only by accident), Malcolm Reed leaned over and kissed Hoshi Sato. She seemed pleased.

"Well, imagine that," he quietly told his bat, who was uninterested in the behavior of humans and cared only for the small beetle that had been dropped into its cage. "He finally did something. I wonder how this will change their relationship."

"Are you still worried about being a father?" Anne was happily settled into her crib, and Hoshi was lying in bed, exhausted. Giving birth was hard enough, and then staying awake through all the well-wishers had worn her out completely. Trip in particular hadn't wanted to leave.

"A bit."

"Malcolm, you're going to be fine. Besides, we're going to do this together."

"Maybe this isn't the best time to ask, but what do you think about getting a house on Earth?"

She yawned. "I wasn't planning on raising Anne on the streets."

He cleared his throat. "I meant together. My father- I don't want to be like him, Hoshi. How can I be a good father if I'm not there?"

Hoshi smiled. "That sounds nice. Can we talk about it more tomorrow?"

"Of course. Sleep well, Hoshi."

That only lasted about two hours, of course, with a newborn. Life had certainly changed, and it all hinged on that first day. Nine months later, and he still hardly remembered the day.

Yet he wouldn't change it for anything. Had Travis even known what an amazing gift he gave? Maybe someday, if the universe went as he hoped, he and Hoshi would have another child, and if it were a boy, he thought they should name him Travis.

Hoshi had been right. The best way to honor Travis was to live, and looking at his daughter, he realized that he had a lot to live for.

No, he might not ever remember that first day, but he wouldn't change it at all.

THE END