Oh, Mama!
By Anna Yolei
Chapter Three: You're WHAT?!
Yeah, you've been waiting a long time for this chapter…well, I won't waste any more time with author's notes.
To save time: I don't own anything, the end :)
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Jonathon shut off the comm link between him and Phlox.
I guess it was nothing, he thought to himself. Perhaps T'Pol's been working too hard and needs a bit of rest. It was just then that Jonathon realized the two of them had not had a romantic dinner together for quite a while. An idea shot to his head and he quickly leapt from his desk in the ready room and headed to their quarters.
Upon arriving, he found T'Pol was indeed resting in bed with one hand draped along her belly. She had only just closed her eyes and the sound of him entering the room woke her.
"Oh…sorry," stammered Jonathon. "I, um…forgot I wasn't supposed to disturb you."
"I wasn't fully asleep," replied T'Pol as she turned from her side to her back. Not that she could have slept if she tried.
Jonathon walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. "How long has it been since we've had some time…alone?"
"I believe it was three weeks ago, in sick bay." Her face took on a sudden flushed appearance.
"What? Oh, no, not like that!" Jonathon pushed the thought of that night out of his head quickly. "I meant like, a quiet dinner?"
From the expression on her face, he figured T'Pol was thinking about it. But eventually, she told him, "six months."
"I thought so. Listen," he continued, "I know why you've been so on edge lately?"
"You do?" she asked, with a look of surprise that Jonathon had not been expecting at all.
"Of course! You've been working too hard! We just need some time to relax and unwind."
She nodded sighing slightly. "That would be a good suggestion, given my condi…temperament…of late." T'Pol hoped her faux pas would go unnoticed.
"How about dinner together? Say, 1900 hours and we'll get all dressed up and have romantic candles and everything, whatever you want."
"We don't need candles with dinner," she told him. "They're a fire hazard."
T'Pol unwavering logic caused him to smile. Jonathon knew that somewhere deep down inside, she'd be disappointed if he didn't do those little things for her, though.
"You'll be back to normal in no time!" He gave her a peck on the forehead, not noticing the look of secrecy that had come over T'Pol's otherwise stoic face, and continued to beam. "Is there anything you want for dinner?"
"Is there any ice cream in the galley?"
Jonathon blinked twice. He had never known T'Pol to eat either sweets or human food, let along a decidedly human dessert, as he knew the sugar content wasn't agreeable to most Vulcans. But he wanted everything to be perfect for her.
"I'll see what Chef has," he told her and started to leave. "I want this to be a night to remember," he added and left out the room.
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Nineteen hundred hours finally came by and Jonathon was lighting two red candles as T'Pol walked in. Her outfit was a beautiful red cocktail dress that was accented by a pair of low-heeled shoes that were the same color as the dress. It was the same outfit she had wore the night of Crewman Cutler's birthday, when the two of them had begun their relationship…
"Wow…you look beautiful…" he complimented as he hurried to pull out as chair for her.
"I'm glad you think so. I'm aware that humans consider red to be a romantic color."
He poured the two of them a glass of pink Champaign. "Well, red does wonders for your figure. Here you go."
As Jonathon sat the glass down on her placemat, T'Pol couldn't help but to note this could very well be the last time she'd fit into this attire.
At the same time, a crewman came in with both their meals; for Jonathon, a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and for T'Pol, a Caesar salad minus the chicken. T'Pol hadn't realized how hungry she was until the slight scent of the salad hit her sensitive nose, and immediately began to eat in earnest.
"Crewman," she asked, "Could you bring a pitcher of water, please?"
"There's a glass of Champaign right there," Jonathon pointed out.
"I'm not in the mood for Champaign right now."
Jonathon sighed. Pink Champaign was T'Pol's favorite drink. She didn't seek to drink it often, of course, but had never turned down a glass when offered. "Oh, come on! You enjoy it. What's one drink gonna do--"
"If you don't mind," she snapped, cutting the last few words off, "I'd prefer water with my salad. Crewman?"
The helpless crewman looked between the Sub-Commander and Captain for a moment before giving a slight nod and exiting quickly. Jonathon began digging into his dish.
"So," he began, "I assume everything's all right?"
"I am physically fine, according to Doctor Phlox," T'Pol remarked. He grinned.
"That's great, then." Having his concerns pushed aside for the moment, Jonathon looked out the window at the stars flying past their window. "Lovely view. Can't imagine life getting any better…I have the dream job, the perfect wife. What else could I want?"
T'Pol found herself becoming slightly angry at this remark. "I thought you might want to start a family someday."
He faced her again. "At my age? I think that ship has sailed."
"But not for me," she said. "Jonathon, I'm 65 years old. I'm in the prime of my life by Vulcan standards."
"Well, we can't have a child together," he told her matter-of-factly. "I mean, what are the odds of that?"
T'Pol remained silent and began eating again. Jonathon continued. "I don't think you'd want to raise a baby out here in the middle of space, anyway."
"Lieutenant Reed and Major Hayes decided to," she quipped. "They took some extreme measures to make that happen."
"It's not like they could do it the old fashion way. They're both men."
"Indeed," T'Pol answered, "Nevertheless, child-rearing will be very difficult. There are many sacrifices to be made and physical labor is only one of them."
"Well, Vulcan women are very tough," he said, not knowing that this was the first time T'Pol had given much thought to the actual act of childbirth.
The crewman returned with the pitcher of water and an extra glass to pour it in right as T'Pol was finishing the last of her salad. He removed her empty plate. "Will that be all, Ma'am?"
"I would like a second helping, please." The young man nodded and walked off.
This greatly surprised Jonathon, who was a little more than half-way done with his meal. Normally T'Pol would still be eating after he was done. As he thought about it, he realized this wasn't the first time this had happened this week. Nor was it the first time he'd seen T'Pol gulping down a glass of water that fast, either.
"T'Pol, are you sure you're all right? You're eating a whole lot more than usual."
She hesitated slightly as she finished her water. "I told you, I'm fine."
But Jonathon doubted this. Seeing this was an attempt at a romantic evening for them both, he dropped the subject for now and continued to eat. His mind wandered to the first time they danced together at Cutler's birthday part about two years ago…he had been astonished by that red dress she was wearing…but she was beautiful, anyway…
"Suppose there were more crewmembers than wish to start families?" T'Pol asked suddenly.
"Excuse me?!" Since when was T'Pol so concerned with babies? He nearly dropped his glass at the bluntness of her question.
"We may have to think about that."
I can't believe this! Here I am trying to have a nice, private dinner with my wife, and all she can think about is babies! I would like to have a family, but not tonight!
"After all," she continued, "It's only natural that the crew will pair off and wish to extend their feelings of their mates by bearing offspring—"
"Can we talk about this later? There's absolutely no need to discuss this tonight." He hastily grabbed the Champaign bottle to pour himself another glass, and began to drink it as T'Pol let out a very audible sigh.
"Jonathon, I'm pregnant."
He spit out his drink immediately upon hearing this, trying to stop himself from choking.
"You're what?!" Jonathon asked in disbelief; although "disbelief" was a bit of an understatement.
"I'm pregnant." T'Pol had answered this as though they were talking about the weekly tactical report, or something of that lot. She raised one eyebrow in anticipation of his answer.
This coolness had done nothing to alleviate the shock of what Jonathon had just heard her say. He pricked his arm slightly to see if he were actually dreaming; but it was very real. Not knowing what else to do, Jonathon let out a nervous chuckle. T'Pol's eyes narrowed.
"There's nothing humorous about this!" she snapped.
"T'Pol…you can't be pregnant. We can't have a baby."
She continued to glower at him still. "Jonathon, there's no mistake. Phlox informed me that my temperament of late is a result of increased hormone levels due to the start of my pregnancy cycle. I've also gained weight and have an increased thirst, two classic signs of Vulcan pregnancy."
He felt himself shaking his head. "I hear it, but it's not sinking in…how did it happen?"
T'Pol's eyes widened. "Surely you know the basics of biological reproduction at your age?"
"Of course I do! I'm just saying…" Well, he'd never read a text book that mentioned cross-special reproduction. "This…I really have to take this in…" All the while, Jonathon felt his breath growing shallower and his palms felt a bit clammy.
"Indeed. We're having a child, and I suggest you get used to it."
Jonathon was in a complete state of shock. From the look on her face, she was absolutely serious about this, and knew this wasn't a joke. They were going to be parents. He was going to be a father.
"So…you're really…we are…am I…?"
"About to become a father, and I a mother," she stated.
The fork he held in his hand fell onto the table, but Jonathon was unaware of this. Time had practically stopped.
"And you're…certain…about this?" he asked once more.
"Yes," she growled. "Jonathon!"
The room around him went black, and he felt himself falling out of his seat.
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"…should be all right," Jonathon heard someone say faintly. The room was dark around him.
"I suppose the news was quite shocking…" was T'Pol's replied.
As he opened his eyes, he found T'Pol and Phlox looking over him with concern.
"What happened?" he asked T'Pol lamely.
"You fainted," was her curt answer. The concern she held for him turned into irritancy once she knew he was all right. She stood up and walked away hastily.
"Why did I do…oh…" In an instant, It all can back to him…T'Pol was having a baby…they were going to be parents…suddenly, his entire life flashed before him as his heart raced.
Phlox held Jonathon up to his feet. "T'Pol is indeed pregnant. If you like, I could take a bioscan…"
"No, that's all right, I believe you…could you excuse us, Doctor?" Jonathon held his head that was now sore from falling on the deck plating.
"Of course, sir…and congratulations." Phlox made a prompt exit, grinning all the while.
Once he had gotten most of his wits about him, he turned to look at T'Pol—the soon-to-be mother of his child—who was watching the window, her head slightly downcast. If he didn't know better, she looked a little…upset?
Well, of course she had every right to be! T'Pol tells me she's pregnant, and I go off and pass out cold? I'd be mad at me too. He had NOT been prepared for this. At all. Jonathon stood up and walked over to her, not daring to reach out for any part of her but her hand. When she turned to look meet his eyes, Jonathon saw T'Pol was on the verge of tears.
"Oh, T'Pol. I'm so sorry…"
"You don't need to apologize for your opinion," she said coldly. "It's quite obvious you don't want children."
His eyes widened. "Wait a minute…you think I don't want to have children?!"
"If you did, I'm sure you would have responded with more joy than you displayed earlier." T'Pol continued to hold that hurt look in her eyes, which poor Jonathon couldn't bare to look at.
"Oh…oh, no that wasn't it at all!" he exclaimed. "It's just that…well, since you and I are, um, not the same species, I've never even given it much thought. It just wasn't logical. And this news… well… you can't spring this sort of thing on a man!"
Jonathon finally braved to pull T'Pol in for a hug, wrapping his hands around her flat belly, knowing now in a few months' time it would take on a more rounded appearance.
"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry I didn't react…better. Please forgive me."
She turned to face Jonathon, who she plainly saw looked very remorseful indeed. T'Pol was finding difficulty in holding resentment towards him. Besides, it would not do to distress the child.
"Very well, then. I can't stay annoyed with you, since the pregnancy came as a bit of a shock to me as well." Then she added, "I suppose you would count this as a memorable night, would you not?"
At this, the tension between them broke and Jonathon grinned.
"Yeah, this is certainly memorable! Oh, wow…we're gonna have a baby!" They shared a brief kiss before Jonathon remembered something that she had said earlier. "You know, there's a small supply of vanilla ice cream in the galley…if you still want any."
She shook her head. "It's not a very healthy food for our child."
"I'm sure Phlox won't object to a small bite or two," Jonathon coaxed as they walked out the room together. "Besides, I'm sure the baby knows what he wants to eat."
"He?"
"—or she…Oh, I can't believe it, we're gonna be parents!"
For the moment, the thought of having the first known half-Vulcan child was lost to them. They were simply two people that were only beginning the road of parenthood together.
TBC
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From Anna Yolei:
There will be more soon. I think.
And thanks for all the reviews for this fic, especially to my two T/T'P reviewers. I don't like doing T/T'P because for the most part I know how this is going to end—if season five is a go, they're gonna get together. Enterprise isn't known for radical out of the box thinking. I try to stray from anything that could be used as an ENT episode…but then again, B&B set the bar pretty low.
Manny Coto: Yeah, but I'm gonna raise that bar, yeah!
Anna: Aren't you the guy who wrote "Harbinger"?!
Manny Coto: Er…Hey, I wrote it, but Rick and Brannon gave me the story.
Anna: Meh, Fair enough. See the rest of you in a few weeks (by which I mean another six months before the next update. Just kidding!).
Chapter Four: Late Night Munchies-As Hoshi adjusts to mood swings and an ever-increasing appetite, T'Pol goes through her first set of cravings!