The sickbay was eerily quiet, the stark white walls seeming to absorb sound. The air smelt of disinfectant and antiseptic, none of this particularly soothing to the blonde man sitting on a chair outside the surgery. The doctors hadn't told him anything, had barely even acknowledged him, just left him alone with his thoughts..which right now were torturing him. If he hadn't been so childish...if he'd been with her..would any of this have happened?

Dammit..I'm such a jerk! I only thought about myself...about my own problems. If something happens to her, or the baby..how could I ever forgive myself?

How long he sat there, he didn't know, his head held in his hands. All that circled around in his head was the sight of her tears the last time he had seen her, mixed with the heart-clenching fear that he would never see her again. The thought of losing her was so painful he could hardly bear it...she was everything to him. She had waited for him, had remained faithful to him and his memory for two long years...and this was how he repaid her?

God, Murrue...I'm so sorry...

"Colonel?"

He looked up suddenly at the sound of the doctor's voice, arms and neck stiff from being in the same position for hours. "I..is she..Murrue..." The doctor sighed, adjusting his spectacles. He looked worn out, leaning against the wall for support. "She's...going to be okay," he replied. "I won't lie, it was touch and go for a while. She's extremely weak...it appears that she hasn't been eating or sleeping much for the last few weeks..and it all caught up with her. She had an accident, it seems...she fell. She's going to be all right - she's out of danger now. But she won't be able to do much for the next few weeks.." He glanced down at the scarred man, who nodded. "I'll take care of her.." A thought suddenly struck him. "Doc, is the..."

"The baby is going to be all right," the man reassured him. "At first, we weren't sure if we would be able to save it. The Captain almost miscarried due to her fall - she lost a lot of blood. She pleaded with us to save the baby...and to bring you here. We managed to pull them both through, but it's going to take a long time for the Captain to get her strength back.."

Mwu sighed, getting to his feet. "All this...is my fault. I don't think I'll ever be able to make it up to her..but I have to try. Can..can I see her?" The doctor nodded, opening the door to the other room. "I don't know how long it'll be before she wakes up..."

The room was almost silent, the only sounds to be heard the beep of a machine, and the quiet breathing of the figure lying in the bed. Sitting down beside her, Mwu took one of her small hands in his, suppressing a shudder at how thin and cold it was. Her face was pale - almost white, her dark hair seeming to make her appear even paler. She was fast asleep, breathing soft and even, and she never stirred, not even when he brushed the back of his hand lightly against her cheek.

"I...I'm sorry, Murrue," he whispered, knowing she couldn't hear him. "This is all my fault. You were alone, and scared..and I never noticed. All of this, the baby, my selfishness..it hurt you, and you tried to cope with it all by yourself. And I promised..that I'd never leave you alone again." He laughed, the normally cheery sound coming out harsh and bitter. "I don't have much of a track record at keeping promises, do I?" He leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her pale lips, breathing in the faint trace of roses. However long it takes, I'll stay here with her.

It felt like she had been asleep for days. Managing to pry her eyes open against the bright light, Murrue drowsily glanced around herself, amber orbs widening as she recognised her surroundings. Sickbay? Oh, that's right, I fell. I... A bolt of fear sliced through her as she remembered the crippling pain in her stomach after her fall, at the sight of the blood. The baby!

She placed a hand on her stomach, tears brimming in her eyes at the thought that she could have lost her child. Please, no...
She attempted to sit up, to call out, but agony shot through her at the movement, forcing the air from her lungs in a gasp. Lying back against the pillows again, she closed her eyes, tears spilling from behind the lids. Am I...alone?


Eventually, a warm feeling in her hand caused her to open her eyes again in curiosity. Sitting beside her bed, head pillowed on one arm...More tears came to her eyes as she reached out to caress the scarred face of her sleeping lover. Mwu... He murmured something at the feel of her fingers, and opened his eyes...his face lighting up as he saw her awake. "Hey there, sweetheart," he said softly, squeezing her hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired.." she whispered, hoping he didn't see her tears. "How long have you been here?"
"Ever since I heard.." he replied, reaching out to wind a lock of her auburn hair around a finger. "God, I'm sorry. This is all my fault, I.." His voice broke off, and he glanced away. "You must hate me.."

"I could never," she replied, managing a smile, even though it felt as though her heart was breaking. "I could never hate you...whatever happens..." Her hand tightened on his, her earlier fear coming back to haunt her. "Mwu...what..is the..." The blonde man smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Murrue. Both you and our baby are going to be just fine. So don't worry..." She sighed with relief, slumping back against the soft pillows. The tears came again, but this time they were tears of happiness. "Thank God.." she whispered - then her eyes flashed open in shock as the meaning of his words hit her. "You..you said..."
"Yeah," Mwu replied gently, his fingers brushing her cheek again. "Our baby".
The young woman sat up, despite the protests from her aching muscles, and embraced her lover, crying into his shoulder. "You still had a week.." she reminded him through her sobs, and he chuckled at that. "I did," he agreed, nuzzling into her neck. "But I got some sense knocked into me by the kid...he helped me realise what it was I really wanted. You...and this baby." He sighed, stroking her auburn hair. "You will...forgive me, won't you? For leaving you to cope alone like that..for not being there. If I had been..maybe this wouldn't have happened..maybe.."

His voice was cut off by Murrue's finger placed firmly on his lips. "None of that," she told him, a hint of the stern captain's tone in her soft voice. "You don't have to apologise...because I know that you were scared. News like that would scare anyone..." She hugged him again, happy beyond belief. "I was scared too," she admitted. "Scared that I was...tying you down. I remember what you told me about your own childhood...is that why..."
"That was part of the reason. But I was just being selfish. I'm not my father, and I know you'll make a great mother. And if there's anyone in the world I'd want to be tied down by..it would be you." His reply brought tears back to her eyes. "You idiot.." she sobbed, fingers curling around the fabric of his uniform. "I love you so much..."
"I love you too, sweetheart," he murmured into her ear. "Everything's going to be all right now..."
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( :yells from inside borrowed bomb shelter: See? I said that she'd be okay! Don't hurt me!
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