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Oh, Baby!
Spock was having a little trouble processing the information. Nyota has six weeks pregnant! Why had he not sensed this? He would need to speak with Sarek or Sirin and find out.
Nyota was still lying on an examination bed, grinning at him. He sat down in the chair next to her and took her hand, fully opening the bond between them.
There was his Nyota, all warmth and affection and joy. She was a beautiful bright light in swirling shades of red, gold, yellow, orange, and fuchsia. And yet on the edges, there was another...a tiny, blue-green ball...a son!
Nyota, we have a son! Do you see him?
Oh, yes, my love ! I see! He is so beautiful, just like his father.
I dare not linger here, should not do more than just brush his consciousness.
Spock eased up on his presence in the bond a bit. It was enough. He had touched their child.
Nyota beheld her beloved. The grin on her face was matched by the sparkle in Spock's eyes. When Bones cleared his throat to announce his presence, Spock did not let go of Nyota's hand.
"Well, now I know where that expression comes from!"
"Which expression would that be, Doctor?" asked a confused Spock.
"I've known you since you were just a gleam in your Daddy's eye!" It's an old Earth expression. No point in denying it, you hobgoblin. You're happy about this baby!"
"It would be most illogical to deny pleasure at the prospect of one's offspring. My response is quite appropriate."
"Oh, yeah. Absolutely logical. Anyway, we need to come up with a care plan for Nyota and Hobgoblin Junior."
"Len, don't you call my baby that!"
"Alright, darlin'. Don't get your panties all bunched up! We'll call him or her "Baby S'chn T'gai."
"Him, Doctor. Our child is a male."
"You seem pretty sure of that for somebody who didn't even know he was gonna be a daddy 'til a few minutes ago."
"I have seen his mental energy signature. It is male."
"Okay, then. Like I was say, we need a plan. I'd like to consult with Sirin and Rachel. They're practically experts, with three healthy hybrid kids. Would that be alright with you two?"
Spock looked at Nyota, who nodded her consent.
"We find that an acceptable course of action, Doctor."
"Good. I'm also going to have to inform Jim of the pregnancy, as it will affect Nyota's eligibility for away missions. Frankly, I'm surprised that he hasn't been down here bugging me for a report on her yet."
Jim was not a patient person, and Spock and Nyota were two of his closest friends. When an hour had passed and there was no report from Bones, he wandered down to Sickbay. He found the doctor in the middle of treating some minor abrasions. A junior engineer had scraped his head exiting a Jeffries tube. Jim waited for the doctor to finish up. Nyota could not be too badly off if Bones was tending to little scrapes like that.
"Okay, Hirsch, be more careful next time. This ship really wasn't designed for tall guys like you."
"Thanks, Doc. I'm beginning to figure that out. Hope I don't see you again quite so soon." When the kid stood up straight, he was over two meters tall. Kirk nodded to him on his way out the door, wondering if he played basketball.
"Hey, Jim, can I do something for you?"
"You know darn well why I'm here. How's Uhura?"
"She and the hobgoblin are in the next room. Why don't you go ask for yourself?"
Bones was being cryptic. Was that a smile on his face? Jim decided not to waste any time on him, so he knocked on the side of the door to the small room.
"You guys up for some company?"
"Hey, Captain. We have some news to tell you, but we don't want it shared with everyone quite yet, just in case things don't work out."
"Uhura, I can keep a secret. What's up?"
"Spock and I are going to be parents."
"A baby? We're gonna have a baby?"
Jim was obviously thrilled at the prospect.
"No, Jim. Nyota and I are going to have a baby."
"I know that Spock. I meant that we're gonna have an addition to the crew. I'm gonna be an "uncle!" This is so cool. When?"
"Well, we're not exactly sure. Human pregnancies usually last 40 weeks, and Vulcan ones about 56 weeks. Len has put in a consultation call to Sirin and Rachel, but we haven't heard anything yet. They probably won't be in their offices for another hour yet."
Bones walked in just then.
"Yeah, well Rachel is a workaholic. I've got her on subspace right now. Let's all move to my office."
Rachel was practically squealing with excitement.
"Six weeks already. Wow. Okay, we need a DNA scan. If the tests reveal copper-based hemoglobin, Nyota will probably need to be treated for copper poisoning. We also need to watch Nyota's white blood cell count. If there's any increase that can't be explained by an injury or infection, she'll need to start anti-rejection meds. The best treatment seems to be a combination of prednisone and cyclosporin in a low dose."
"Hang on there Rachel. Let me compare her white count today with her average for the past year. Damn. She's gone from the middle of the normal range to slightly elevated."
"Okay, call me back with the results of the DNA scan. We shouldn't make any treatment decisions until we have all the facts. Sirin's in surgery this morning, but I'll get him over here in the afternoon."
Bones sat at his desk, interpreting the results of the DNA scan. Baby S'chn T'gai was indeed a male. He had iron-based hemoglobin, for which the doctor breathed a silent prayer of thanks. That would mean many fewer complications. The little guy had 31.8% Vulcan DNA, about half as much as his father. That was no surprise. There did not seem to be any deadly malformations. He had the appropriate number of chromosomes and the right number of vital organs. Nothing was missing as far as Bones could tell.
He forwarded the results to Rachel. An hour moments later, she and Sirin contacted Bones via subspace.
"Leonard, these are very encouraging results. We took the liberty of consulting with Dr. T'Phera, who is now working at the Voorhees Clinic. She was one of the geneticists who helped with Spock's conception. She feels that this fetus has very good odds of survival if we can prevent Nyota's body from rejecting it. T'Phera also does not see any serious abnormalities. The child will be unique, but fully functional."
"Sirin, that is fantastic news. I'll pass it on to the parents and get Nyota started on her meds."
Bones had sent Nyota to her quarters to rest. Spock was there, too, of course, hovering like a mother hen. Bones met them there and gave them the news about the DNA scans and the baby's good chances for survival and a normal life.
"This is going to mean some lifestyle changes for you two, though. Nyota, the drugs you'll be taking will suppress your immune system to a certain degree. That means no away missions for you and I'll have to quarantine Spock for a while after he's been on one. You are only going to work long shifts in an emergency situation, and then no longer than twelve hours. I'm going to be watching you carefully for blood pressure and fluid retention issues. You'll probably gain a little more weight than you'd like. Also, I want you to minimize your transporter use."
"I know this is a lot to absorb in a short period of time. I'll be glad to help you with any questions that arise. Now, I'm going to start you on your meds. You'll need to come down to sickbay twice a day for them, morning and evening."
Bones gave Nyota two hypos and then he left the young couple in peace.
Nyota lay on the bed. Spock had closed their bond and his expression was unreadable.
"Spock, don't do that. Let me in and show me what you are feeling."
"Nyota, this pregnancy will be so hard on you, mentally and physically. Perhaps we should..."
"Don't go there, Spock. Don't say it, don't even think it. I want this child and so do you. If this doesn't work out, at least we will have tried. Now get up here and hold me. I could use a nice warm Vulcan to cuddle up to."
Spock did not usually drift off to sleep. His usual pattern was to meditate and then rest. He would fall asleep instantly, as though someone had flipped a switch. However, he had drifted off, with Nyota safe and warm in his arms. He awoke several hours later, to see her on her side, facing him. She liked to sleep in one of his old t-shirts and a pair of his boxer shorts. The shorts had slid down a bit in her sleep, exposing her tummy.
Spock gently placed one large, warm hand there. Ever so quietly, he spoke.
"My son, I will do all in my power to help you live and grow. I want you to be happy and know that you are loved and accepted. Please stay with us, with your mother and I. We want you very much."
He removed his hand and gently kissed Nyota's belly, unaware that she had been listening the entire time. Nyota reached down and stroked the side of Spock's face.
"Kiss him again for me."