Kriss was getting ready to go out and meet Yvonne she just about managed to slip into her jeans and put on a top that showed off her small bump but didn't look hideous and made her way down to the security pass. This walk took her past Arnold's quarters so she thought she'd pop in.
"Hey" she said to him "just popping in before go see Yvonne"
"What time will you be back?" he asked her
"11.30"
"Okay, come see me then"
"Sure" she said "see you later"
"Love you," he said, "come here" he gave her a kiss
"I love you too"
Kriss reached security and put her handbag through the machine she then made her way down to the officer's club where Yvonne was waiting for her.
"Kriss" she called "I haven't seen you in ages, what's new with you?" Kriss pointed to her stomach "oh, you're not? You're pregnant?" Kriss nodded
"It's a girl," she told Yvonne "my Chloë"
Yvonne gave her a hug
"Congratulations" she yelled "do you want some of my old maternity clothes?" she asked
"If you wouldn't mind, thank you?"
"Oh no problem" Yvonne reassured her "in fact Jemimah's been asking after you can you come see her?"
"Sure" Kriss agreed, "I'd love to see Jemimah again"
Jemimah was Yvonne's little girl she was six and came with Yvonne when she joined the space core. Yvonne always had her maternity clothes with her though, just in case she fell pregnant again and she had some really stylish stuff, jeans, skirts everything Kriss would need.
"Thank you" Kriss said when the time came for Kriss to go "I'm very grateful, and it was wonderful to see Jemimah again. Just gives me some incite about what life will be like when Chloë comes," Kriss patted her stomach
"You will have a much better time than me," Yvonne told her "you've got Arnold, I didn't have anyone"
Kriss gave Yvonne a hug and went back up to the prison checked back in and made her way to Arnold's quarters. She just walked into his room.
"Hey" she shook him to wake him up "look at what Yvonne gave me"
"Wonderful" he said "you feeling okay?"
"Sure, I saw Jemimah too, blimey she's growing up"
"You look lovely," he told her "stay with me tonight?"
"Sure, I'll just go and get my nightie and a uniform for tomorrow okay?"
Arnold nodded as she walked out of the door.
When Kriss returned about twenty minutes later Arnold had fallen asleep again. She didn't try to wake him up; she just curled into bed with her and shut her eyes. They didn't wake until morning.
"Let's apply for joint quarters," Arnold said "with a double bed"
Kriss agreed "let's do it today"
They applied for it and it was granted. They were given a double room with a double bed and a cot for Chloë. They were so happy; this was just what they needed. The months rolled on and before they knew it Kriss was eight months gone and very, very big.
"I've never been so uncomfortable" she complained at breakfast that morning "oh Chloë, get out" she yelled at her stomach.
"It doesn't quite work that way, beautiful" Arnold told her
"Don't you start," she snapped at him "you got me into this mess in the first place, why can't you keep yourself to yourself"
Dave sniggered. Kriss started to cry. Arnold was shocked.
"Nothing to worry about" Kryten assured him "just mood swings"
"What would you know novelty condom head" Kriss turned on Kryten "you ever been pregnant?"
"No ma'am I was just saying…"
"Well don't!" every body went silent and then Kriss let out a cry "I'm so sorry guys" she apologised "I'm just so tired of being pregnant"
"We understand darling" Arnold reassured her. They had been together over a year now; Arnold had never managed this before and was rather proud of himself.
At that moment Kriss felt something and shouted out in pain. The boys heard a gush and felt a warm liquid around their feet.
"Er, Kriss" Dave tried to get her attention
"What do you want?" Kriss yelled at him
"I think your waters have broken" Dave told her
"Oh, my god" Arnold screamed "Kriss we've got to get you up to the medi bay, you're about to have Chloë"
Arnold picked Kriss up and carried her towards the medi bay as fast as he could. Every so often Kristine screamed out as she had a contraction. They were getting longer and longer and closer and closer very quickly. Arnold ran into the medi-bay.
"Kristine Kochanski, she's in labour," Arnold told the receptionist "the contractions are frequent and strong," he continued "I don't think there's much time left"
Within three hours Chloë Victoria Rimmer-Kochanski made her way into the world. She was beautiful. She had dark blue eyes and lovely brown hair. She weighed 6lb 9oz and was the spitting image of her mother. Kriss healed her tight and kissed her on the forehead. She had never been so happy, she loved Chloë more than life itself and vowed she'd do anything to protect her.
"No man is ever going to be good enough for you" Kriss told her "you're my angel, Chloë and I love you so much"
Arnold came into the room,
"Can I have a hold?" he asked
"She's your daughter too," Kriss laughed "of course you can" Arnold took her and hugged her "but be careful" she continued, "She's really precious"
Arnold looked into Chloë's eyes; he stared at her beauty and knew how lucky he was.
"Arnold" Kriss asked, "I'm going to go to sleep for a while"
"Okay, my darling" Arnold told her "do you mind if I take her to show the others?"
"Who?" she asked sleepily
"Kryten, Cat and Dave" he answered
"Sure," she told him "can you ask them to come and see me?" she asked, "I could do with some visitors"
"Sure" he told her
"And be careful with Chloë"
Arnold went to the desk and told them that he was taking Chloë out to see some people. They said this was fine as long as he signed her out, which he did.
Had Arnold not have been holding his daughter he would have skipped down the corridor to tell the others. He knocked on the door.
"Dave," he called "I've got someone to see you"
"Come in" Dave called
Arnold walked in; he saw Cat, Kryten and Dave
"I'd like to make an announcement" he said with excitement in his voice "this is Chloë"
Dave couldn't look at her. It was supposed to be him standing there holding his child, his Chloë. Not Arnold's Chloë.
"Who wants a hold?" Arnold asked
"I'd like a hold sir," Kryten asked "if that's okay?"
"Okay Kryten" Arnold said "but you must be careful with her," Kriss will kill me if anything happens to her.
"Yes" Kryten continued, "how is Miss Kochanski?"
"She's fine" Arnold answered "very tired, but she's sleeping right now"
Dave felt that he could look at Chloë now and he felt like he'd like a hold.
"Rimmer" he asked, "please can I hold her?"
"Sure" Arnold answered "but be careful with her, she's very precious and if anything happens to her Kriss will kill me"
"It's okay" Dave said "she's part of Kristine, I'll love Chloë just like I love her"
Arnold smiled at him, didn't really know what to say to this, he just handed Chloë over to him and kissed her head.
"So buddy" Cat asked Arnold "who do you think she looks like?
"I think she's got your nose, Sir" Kryten told him
"What?" he asked "nah, she's gorgeous she's all Kristine"
Dave started to bond with Chloë and started talking to her
"Hello, gorgeous, I'm you're uncle Dave" he told her "just remember Chloë," he continued "I'm always here for you to, you can always come talk to your uncle Dave, I love you"
Arnold looked at his watch
"Is that the time?" he said "I've got to get Chloë back, she's got another feed in fifteen minutes, she'll be hungry and she'll be angry"
Chloë started crying, that cute new baby cry that hadn't really got off the ground yet. Dave listened to her and fell deeper in love with her. He rocked her from side to side and comforted her.
"Dave," Arnold said "give her back, she's hungry I've got to take her to Kriss, she'll be worried" slowly but surely Dave handed Chloë back to Arnold and sat down. When Arnold took Chloë away he began to cry.
"She's so beautiful" Dave sobbed, "she's all Kriss, she's amazing"
"Its okay sir" Kryten comforted him "if you and Kriss are meant to be it'll happen"
"But what about Chloë?" he asked, "Now they've got her they'll never split up."