See Prologue for Disclaimer.

Part 19 of 36

The flight to the station proceeded without problems. Susan had received some documents from Tilaan about the dream-chancer, which she read. She hadn't observed at all, that they had already reached the station. First as a minbari came into her quarter to tell her.

"Isban'Tho, we reach in approximately an hour the station. We have thought that you want to announce the ship personally."

"Thanks Sabaan."

Susan got up, brought her uniform in order and went to the bridge.

"Babylon 5, this is White-Star-Ship 25 of the Isban'Tho. We request permission to dock."

"Susan, we have already expected you." It was John who greeted her and not Lt. Corwin, as she had expected it. He transmitted the data of the landing field to her and dismissed for now.

Few minutes later the ship landed on his place. Susan alit as first and was deeply moved. All her friends were there to welcome her.

"Susan it's nice to see you again." all together said.

Stephen, Zack, Lyta and John were surprised by her new uniform. Really they had assumed that she would wear the same dark clothes like Marcus.

"Welcome back on the station Isban'Tho Susan. Has everything proceeded well?" Delenn asked.

"Yes, everything has gone well. But Delenn please don't address me with the title. We are friends and theoretically I'm your subordinates."

"No, Susan. We are both leaders of a great organization."

"But I'm still a ranger and something else more."

„Okay we remain with our old habits, before you have done the oath."

"I agree. Thank you for the greeting. If you have nothing against it I would visit Marcus now. I invite you all this evening to 'Earthers', I think you will have some questions, which I will answer you then."

Her friends were in agreement. Stephen accompanied Susan to Marcus.

"How does he is?"

"He's still in coma. His live signs improve only very slow. With this tempo it will still last years until he's the old one."

"Thanks Stephen that you worry so well about him."

Susan went in his room. She wasn't prepared for the sight. He had emaciated and was pale.

„Stephen, don't you give him something to eat, do you?"

"However, he gets infusions, but it isn't the same like real food. If he has woken up again, he will gain quickly again and get colour."

„I will hope that also."

Stephen left the room. Susan took his hand and kissed it softly. Marcus felt, that Susan was on the station again. He tried to move his hand, in what he a bit succeeded.

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„Have you just moved your hand, Marcus?" Susan asked, as she felt his movement.

"I don't know. In any case I have tried it. Was I successful? Have you felt something?"

"Yes, I have felt something. You are on the way of improvement. I have known it! Now everything will get well again."

"Not so quickly. I have still a long way in front of me. But now, where I know, that you are on the station again, I feel immediately much better."

"I have missed you also. Marcus, I'm tired. I will go in my quarter and lay down. I meet with the other in the evening for dinner. They will have some questions about the dream-chancer and my new position. But tomorrow I'm only alone there for you. Sweet dreams."

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Susan gave him a kiss, before she went to her quarter. She showered and lay down to sleep. Her dreams revolved once again around Marcus and the night they had spent together. Susan was woken by the ringing of her BabCom. Slowly she had to get finished for her appointment. She put on her blue uniform and combed her hair. She carried it open since she didn't belong to EarthForce anymore. As she reached the restaurant, she saw already her friends waiting. Stephen got up to put her chair right.

"Thanks Stephen. It's good to see you all again."

Lennier bowed respectful to Susan. "Good evening, Isban'Tho Susan."

"If somebody can explain me what this is all about. Each addresses you with this Isban'Tho. What's that? Shouldn't they call you Anla'Shok?" Stephen asked.

"Isban'Tho is the leader of a secret organization, which should be set up now. We are something similar like the rangers; we only dispose of other means to come at our information."

"I always hear 'We'! Who are 'We' and what having you to do with them?"

"We are the dream-chancer and I'm their leader. There's a prophecy of Valen, that 1.000 years after his emergence two persons come, who will make the dream-chancer to something great. Valen had written to his time many books, which the minbari use now as law-books. One of these books was however worthless for them. They haven't understood until now, what he had written. Sech Durhan, a teacher of me has given me the book to read. It conforms to us all, his friends on Babylon 5. He tells me, that I and a second person should set up the dream-chancer. I believe him. After I had provided the oath as ranger, I participated still in a further ceremony, which has made me to Isban'Tho. Now I'm the official leader the Amin'Sogan."

"And what are this dream-chancer doing? Delenn simply didn't want to tell me something about them."

"We collect, just like the rangers, information. We use for it the ability to penetrate in the dreams of other creatures. There's a good reason, that Delenn hasn't told you anything. There are only a handful of minbari, who have known of us. However they didn't know what we do."

"Does Marcus know that you are the Isban'Tho?" Lennier asked.

"Yes, I have informed him about my decision and he has accepted this. And now let us begin to eat. I'm starving."

The group had dinner and conversed. Susan wanted to know everything, what had happened during her absence on the station. John could betray her only some details, since he was no more Captain and wasn't informed about everything. As all were finished, the group separated. John had still to settle some things in his office. Delenn accompanied Susan to her quarter.

"May I ask you a personal question, Susan?"

"Sure Delenn. What is it?"

"I don't know. In the last time I feel always so funny in the morning. Usually I'm feeling immediately after the waking up rather bad, almost each time I must vomit. I don't know what it can be. Do you have an idea? I didn't want to burden Dr. Franklin with it. And John also not. He's always so worried about me."

"Delenn, of course I'm no doctor, but I would suppose, that you are pregnant. Perhaps you should go to Stephen; he can tell you the exact reason for it. But morning sickness is often one of the first indications of a pregnancy by humans."

"A baby?"

"Yes, Delenn. If you want, I come to Stephen with you."

"Thanks Susan that would be nice of you."

"Immediately tomorrow morning. I have nothing planned. Come to me when you have some free time. I will be in my quarter."

Delenn bowed to Susan and went in her own quarter.

'Delenn and John getting a baby. What will John say to it? Now, where he has so much stress with the alliance and what will Delenn do?' Susan thought.

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"You seems so happy, my love. Is there a particular reason for it?"

"Yes, there are several. I'm simply happy to be on the station and with my friends again. And I'm glad, that I can see you really. And I know a secret of Delenn."

"A secret? Do you want to betray it to me?"

"No, not yet. I'm not sure, whether I'm right with my conjecture. But I'm rather sure. Not even John knows of it. He should learn it before you."

Marcus bucked.

"Don't be sour. I know something, with what I can cheer you up again."

"Yes, with what?" Marcus smiled provoked. He appeared to suspect, what would come now.

Susan went to him and gave him a long kiss.

"With that you can do much more than only to cheer me up. I love you Susan."

"I love you also, Marcus. For the rest of my life."

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In the next morning Susan was woken by the chirping of her door bell. It was Delenn.

"Excuse me, if I have woken you, Susan. I can come again later."

"No, Delenn. Not necessary. I have told you, that you can come, if you have time. If you wait here, I get myself quickly finished, so that we can go to Stephen."

"Thanks Susan."

"Nothing to thank for. If you want, you can make a cup of tea. You find everything in the kitchen."

Already at the thought of tea or other foods Delenn was feeling sick. Susan saw it at her pale expression.

"Are you feeling sick?"

Delenn couldn't answer, but ran in Susan's bath and vomited. Susan followed her, to help her.

"I think, I dispense my shower today and we go immediately to Stephen. In my opinion, you are clearly pregnant."

Delenn had to vomit once more. Susan got dressed quickly in her uniform and led Delenn to the MedLab.

"Susan, you become here soon a regular guest. What can I do for you this time? Ambassador Delenn, do you want to visit Marcus also?"

"Stephen, I must disappoint you. I'm not here this morning because of Marcus. Can you please examinant Delenn? We have the conjecture, that she's pregnant."

Delenn grinned him at. He led her in his examination room and scanned her. The results were clear.

"Congratulations, ambassador. The president and you will get in approximately eleven months a baby." At the minbari a normal pregnancy lasted 14 months, however Delenn was a mixture between human and minbari, Stephen was cautious with his estimate. It was the first time he treated such a hybrid.

"Thanks doctor. Please don't tell John, I want to say it him personally."

"Of course I won't tell him."

„I have still a question. How long does it last until the sickness goes away? It's simply awful."

"At the most women it goes away after the first third, but I can give you something, so that it doesn't become completely so bad. It won't also harm the baby."

"Thanks doctor that would be very nice."

Stephen gave Delenn some pills and she went out again to Susan, who had waited. She simply nodded to her.

"That are some good news, Delenn. How do you want to tell it John? I know he will be happy."

"I don't know how I should tell him. We hadn't yet the chance to speak about children until now."

"He will be happy, Delenn. He has always wished for children. Cook a romantic meal this evening and ask him about children. Then you can tell him about your news."

"Thanks Susan. I know to estimate your advice. John has told me a bit about the customs on the Earth. May you become godmother to the baby?"

"It would be an honour to be godmother."

Susan pursued her tasks as Isban'Tho, while Delenn prepared a meal for her husband. She had some difficulties thereby, therefore she asked Susan for help. She agreed to help Delenn. They decided for spaghettis. While the noodles cooked, Susan sat on the sofa and listened to the stories of Delenn. Susan observed not at all, how tired she was. Slowly she fell asleep.

Delenn noticed this not at all at first. First as she asked Susan a question because of the meal, she noticed, that she had fallen asleep. Delenn finished the meal alone and then woke Susan.

"Susan, get up."

"Delenn, what has happened?"

"You have fallen asleep. I have finished the meal alone. John should come each moment. I have laid down an additional cover. I insist on it, that you are eating with us."

"Delenn, I can't assume that. It's your evening. You have to discuss something important. I will only disturb there."

"I insist on it. I feel guilty, because I have claimed you the whole day. Look what I have done to you. You are so exhausted, that you fall asleep on the sofa. You must eat something and you are too wearily to prepared you something yourself. And perhaps you can help me something with the conversation. Simply I don't know, how I should tell it John."

"Okay, you have persuaded me."

Exactly in this moment John came into the room.

"Susan, which surprise to see you here. I have thought you must pursue of your new task."

"I really wanted that. However then I had to help Delenn with a small problem. And as thank you she has invited me to dinner. If it doesn't disturb you."

"No, on the contrary. I'm pleased, that you are on the station again. Now is almost everything like the old one."

"It's not like the old times and it will never be the same." Susan examined Delenn and grinned her to. "Let us eat now! Delenn has cooked spaghettis."

"But only with your help." answered Delenn.

They sat at the dinner table and began to talk.

"John, how is the life as husband and president?"

"My job as president is so demanding, that I haven't had yet much chance to be husband. But it isn't bad. Better as I had it in memory. I think you will have also your fun with it!"

"Why I? I don't intend to marry in next time. The man is missing me to it."

"Marcus is there certainly other opinion!"

"Marcus has nothing to say at all. He can express his opinion, if he is healthy again. Previously not."

"I think we all know Marcus' opinion. He would have married you when he has seen you the first time and made immediately a half dozen children with you."

Susan blushed. John laughed over it and Delenn used the chance, to ask her question.

"John what do you think about children? We had no chance to speak about it!"

"I love children, but I'm not sure, whether it's the right time, to have some."

"John gives it ever a right point in time. I mean, we never know, what waits on us. As I have come to the station, I wouldn't have thought, that we fight against shadows, kidnap the missing station Babylon 4 and sent it 1.000 years in the past, you become president and marry a minbari and I would have never thought, that I join the rangers and become leader of the dream-chancer. I haven't known about both of them then."

"Okay, Susan you are right. We don't know, what comes up on us and I think, now is a good point in time to speak about children. But if you have nothing against it, I lead this conversation rather with my wife alone." John said.

"John, don't worry about it. There is a reason, why Susan has spent today the day with me. She has accompanied me to Dr. Franklin."

"To Stephen? Are you sick?"

"Only in the morning. Dr. Franklin has let me know, that I'm pregnant. I had asked Susan last night, why I'm always feeling so sick in the morning since some days. She had the conjecture, that I'm getting a baby and has brought me to the doctor."

"You are pregnant? We're getting a baby?" John was disconcerted.

"I have told you that he will be happy. I leave you now alone. You must still celebrate the news. And I have to go to Marcus; he will certainly die of curiosity."

Susan went in her quarter and took her shower of the morning. Ultimately she laid down in the bed and fell asleep.

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"Susan, you look wearily", Marcus noticed, as they met in the dream world.

"That lies in it, that I'm tired. Already the whole day. Perhaps it's the shift of the minbari - day on the life on the station. Can you imagine you that? I had overslept this morning."

"Did you have something important to do?"

"You can say that. I had a meeting with Stephen!"

"You? Are you sick?"

"No, I have accompanied Delenn to there."

"Delenn was with Stephen? Is she ill?"

"I wouldn't say ill. Delenn is pregnant, that is the secret. And I become godmother!"

"Now I can understand why you have looked so happy yesterday. Aren't children something wonderful?"

"I don't want to discuss with you about children now. You aren't in the position to worry about this."

"To order boss. And now I let you sleep. I don't want to be the reason if you collapse because of overtiredness."

"Thanks Marcus. You do Stephen a large kindness with it." Susan smiled and fell in a dreamless, restful sleep.

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In the morning she progressed to evaluate the data Tilaan had sent. Thereby she was disturbed by her BabCom.

"Ivanova go. What's wrong?"

John appeared on the screen.

"Susan, I'm sorry, if I disturb you. But there is a problem. Can you come into my old office, please?"

What do you think so far? Please R&R.