Back in the flat she shared with Icheb when they were planet-side, Naomi waited impatiently for the COMM-link to connect with the USS Coleman. Despite her initial surprise at the Doctor's confirmation of her suspicions, she was actually quite pleased at the news and couldn't wait to share it with him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Icheb," she gushed as his slightly dishevelled face filled the screen, "I didn't even think about what time it might be where you are."

Icheb waved a dismissive hand, "It's fine," he assured her, surreptitiously rubbing his eyes, "is everything all right? I thought our next scheduled call was in three days."

"It is," she replied, "but I have some news."

"News?" he repeated sleepily.

Naomi suppressed a smile at his visible confusion. Although she hated interrupting his rest (particularly when he was regenerating) she privately found his subsequent befuddlement rather endearing.

"It seems you left a little souvenir when you were here on leave," she explained in a teasing tone, "Icheb…I…" she took a steadying breath, "I'm pregnant," she told him with a broad smile.

Icheb froze and for a brief moment Naomi feared that they'd lost the connection. Her smile faded as the silence stretched on, "Icheb?" she prompted uncertainly.

He blinked, "Pregnant?" he asked tonelessly.

Naomi felt her heart sink, "Yes," she confirmed in a small voice.

"You're sure?"

She nodded, feeling tears start to prick in her eyes, "The Doctor confirmed it this morning."

"I see," he said absently, staring off to the side, apparently deep in thought.

Naomi's vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears, at the sound of her sob Icheb's eyes snapped to the screen.

"Naomi? What's wrong?" he asked, horrified at the sight of her tears.

"I know we never talked about children but…I thought…I thought you'd be happy," she sobbed, burying her face in her hands.

"Naomi, darling, please, look at me," Icheb begged, leaning closer to the screen as she continued to sob into her hands.

"I am happy," he continued in the same pleading tone, "I promise. This just…it took me by surprise."

Naomi sniffed and peeped up at the screen, "Really?"

"Of course," Icheb assured her with a smile, "Naomi, we're going have a family. I've never…I never thought that would happen."

Naomi wiped her eyes and gave him a small smile, "I didn't either," she confessed, "it took me by surprise too."

"Are you…is everything ok?" Icheb asked, concerned, "Do you need anything? What did the Doctor say?"

Naomi gave a small, huffing laugh, "Everything's fine," she told him in a reassuring tone, "the Doctor said the baby looks healthy. He's going to run more scans and give me more details later, but he said I should tell you first."

Icheb let out a frustrated sigh, "We still have another few months left until we return to Earth," he grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "But I'll try to be there as soon as I can," he promised, "in the meantime, perhaps you should call your mother or Seven or even B'Elanna or…or…"

"Icheb," Naomi interrupted him firmly, "I'm fine. I don't need anyone to come and take care of me, you're the only one I need."

Icheb looked at her steadily for a moment, "I just want you to be safe."

"I'm fine," she repeated, "and I promise I won't do anything reckless."

Icheb raised an eyebrow.

"Icheb!" she admonished him in mock indignation, "Where does this low opinion of your wife come from?"

"I have the highest possible opinion of my wife," Icheb told her gravely, "I just…so many things could go wrong."

"If they do, then we'll worry about them together," she told him, just as seriously.

He still looked unsure, "Together?"

Naomi nodded, "Together."

"I still don't like the distance between us," he said finally.

Naomi grinned, "The distance is-"

"-irrelevant," he finished for her with a self-deprecating smile. He sighed, "I love you," he said seriously, looking her in the eye.

"And I love you," she replied. "Now, I'm sorry I disturbed you. You really should get some rest," she added, her tone turning playful once more, "I worry about you too, you know."

"I'm not sure that I'll get much sleep after this," he confessed with a small smile, "I really am very happy about this, Naomi."

She smiled, "Me too."

They smiled warmly at each other before Icheb stifled a yawn, making Naomi giggle.

"Good night, darling," she said decisively, kissing her fingers and pressing them to the screen.

"Take care of yourself," he answered, copying her gesture.

Naomi rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, "Icheb."

"What?"

She shook her head fondly at his innocent expression, "Try not to worry," she told him, "and sleep well."

"I'll try," he promised as they closed the connection.

Naomi sat back in the chair and ran a hand gently across her stomach. "I think your father is going to become even more unbearably overprotective," she commented drily. "But always remember that it's born out of love," she paused, "and we'll never tell him, but we secretly enjoy it," she added in a conspiratorial tone.

...

A/N: It's never specifically stated, but my understanding is that Seven and Icheb would gradually rely less on regeneration. Hence why the assumption is that he's been asleep.