Captain's personal log, Stardate 2.3456.789
The speculation about who the father is has died down. I'm quite relieved by that. I know Tuvok would like to just announce it and get it out in the open, but I'm not comfortable with that just yet. I know that when the baby is born, the issue will force itself. There are only two Vulcans on the ship, so everyone will figure it out. I'm not ashamed that Tuvok and I are in love, I guess I just want to protect him from people thinking that he's trying to curry favor by sleeping with the boss.
I know...I know. Tuvok would say that I'm being illogical, and maybe I am. I want to get married, but I don't feel comfortable bringing up the subject. I know I should be comfortable. After all, we're comfortable enough around each other to conceive a child. I guess it's the whole issue of rank again. I don't know why I care what others think, but I do. I guess I feel a little bit guilty for constantly rebuffing Chakotay under the pretense that it's inappropriate to date those under my command, and then I go and have a relationship with Tuvok.
About one week before she was due, Captain Janeway consulted with the Doctor, and they agreed that it was best for her to begin her maternity leave. She was in her quarters, preparing a nursery for the baby, when the chime rang. "Enter!" She kept working.
Tuvok came in. "Good evening, Kathryn. What are you doing?"
"Finishing up the nursery. Do you like it?"
"You should be resting. You're nine months pregnant, and it's illogical for you to overtax yourself."
"I can't help it. In late pregnancy, human women have an almost irresistible urge to prepare everything for the arrival of the baby. It's called nesting."
They sat down on the couch. Tuvok brushed Kathryn's hair back, and leaned in to give her a kiss. He looked over at the nursery and said, "I've been thinking. I have behaved improperly by taking you for a mate without giving you the permanence that that relationship deserves. You deserve to have the security that comes with a lasting union. It is only logical that I give that to you."
Tuvok knew that to a Vulcan, what he had just said would be sufficient. However, Kathryn is an emotional being, and he had to appeal to that side as well. He rarely showed his emotions, but he decided that now was a good time to let some of them out in the open. He continued, "Although there are several logical reasons for what I am about to say, it mainly comes down to this. This past year has been wonderful. You complete me in a way that I did not know that I was incomplete. You are my best friend, and my soul mate. I can no longer imagine my life without you in it. I want to spend the rest of my days with you by my side. Kathryn Janeway, will you marry me?"
Kathryn was delighted. Although she enjoyed the emotional aspect of what he said, and she knew that he meant every word, it was his logic that touched her. She knew that he could use his logic to justify anything that he wanted to, and the fact that he was using it to propose marriage to her showed his sincerity. He wasn't doing this because he felt obligated, he was doing this because he was in love. "Tuvok, I-" Before she could finish her sentence, she put her arms over her abdomen and let out a groan. After she was able to take a deep breath and start to talk, she let out another groan.
"What is it!" Tuvok asked in concern.
"Contractions. I'm going into labor."
Tuvok tapped on his com badge. "Tuvok to sick bay. Captain Janeway is going into labor. I'm bringing her in."
"Understood," replied the Doctor.
They arrived in sickbay and Kathryn was on the delivery table. Tuvok was by her side holding her hand and encouraging her to push. For a split second, his mind flashed back to the four times he had stood by T'Pel's side in this very same situation. He quickly put that thought out of his mind and focused his attention on the present.
Neelix stopped by after a few hours to check on the captain. As morale officer, he wanted to make sure everything was ok. Members of the senior staff filed in and out. After Neelix left, Lt. Paris came to sickbay. He stayed for a few minutes, and then left. Ensign Kim came and then left. Only Tuvok stayed the whole time.
After eight hours, the doctor said, "Things are going slowly. Tuvok, you should go and get some rest. Captain Janeway is in my capable hands."
Tuvok replied, "Vulcans can go for days without sleep. I am fine, and I would prefer to stay right here where I am."
The Doctor smirked and said, "Careful, Tuvok. You brought her in here and have been by her side the whole time. If the crew didn't know better, they might think..."
Tuvok cut the Doctor off by raising his eyebrow in standard Vulcan fashion.
After sixteen hours of labor, the sickbay doors opened, and Chakotay stood in the doorway.
The Doctor walked over to the door to head Chakotay off. He was sick of the constant visitors. "Can I help you, Commander?"
"I just got off my bridge shift, and I went to go check on Captain Janeway to see how she was doing. When I got to her quarters and she wasn't there, I asked the computer where she was, and the computer said she was in sickbay."
"Yes, she is. She's in labor, and I don't want my sickbay turned into a circus. I'll let you know when you can visit."
Chakotay peered around the Doctor and saw Tuvok standing next to Captain Janeway. "You're letting Tuvok be here."
"That's because Tuvok is..." There was a slight pause, and for a split second, Chakotay wondered if the Doctor was going to say that Tuvok is the father. But then he put that thought out of his head as absurd. "...her Lamaze coach."
Finally the Doctor relented, and Chakotay walked over to the bed where Janeway was still pushing. Tuvok looked up, a little startled, and a little annoyed, to see Chakotay there, interrupting such a private moment. He did not let on, however. Kathryn is the only person he shows his emotions around.
After another hour, the Doctor announced, "I see the head. You're almost there. Keep pushing!"
A few moments later, they all heard the cry of a healthy infant. Just as Tuvok put his arm around Kathryn's shoulder, the Doctor was the first to see a radiant, dark-skinned, pointy-eared baby. "Congratulations! It's a girl!" He cleaned her up, cut the umbilical cord, wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to Captain Janeway. Kathryn and Tuvok looked at each other, beaming, with love in their eyes.
Chakotay and the Doctor looked at each other in surprise. Neither one of them had actually expected Tuvok to be the father. Chakotay recovered from the surprise and said, "Congratulations to you both. She's beautiful." He then awkwardly excused himself.