Will and Soren sat in the waiting area of sickbay, waiting for news of Tasha. Dr. Crusher had taken her right back and started an IV on her. Data had come to the door and told them that Dr. Crusher had said that the baby would definitely be born some time that night or in the early morning. She said that since it was Tasha's first baby, labor might last longer than average.
Soren thought of her own baby in its artificial womb in another area of sickbay. She knew that it would be several more months before the baby was ready to be born.
"If Data were capable of emotional expression, I don't think he would be any more nervous than you two," Dr. Crusher chuckled.
"We've both been right beside Tasha and Data every step of the way with this pregnancy," Will told her. "We feel almost as if we're family."
"It's wonderful that they have such good friends." Dr. Crusher smiled at them. "And before you know it it'll be your turn."
"Ah, parenthood. The most daunting challenge I have ever faced." Will grinned.
"And it will be the most rewarding one," Dr. Crusher assured him.
"How is Wesley?" Soren asked.
"He's fine. Still at Starfleet Academy."
Data stuck his head in the doorway. "Dr. Crusher, Tasha requires more pain medication."
"You may come in if you want, and if Tasha doesn't mind," Dr. Crusher told Will and Soren. "There's no point in your just hanging around out here at this early stage." She went to tend to Tasha, and Will and Soren followed.
"Mind some company?" she asked Tasha, when they were in the room.
Tasha shook her head. She was lying in bed hooked up to an IV, looking very uncomfortable.
"I wish epidurals were still available," she grumbled. Epidurals had been banned at the end of the twenty-first century when it had been proven that they caused nerve damage in the spine later in life.
"You'll do fine," Dr. Crusher assured her, patting her arm.
All of them looked at the machine which kept track of Tasha's heart rate and the baby's heart rate. A short while later Will and Soren had to leave the room because Dr. Crusher had to examine Tasha again. She let them back in right afterwards.
"She's dilated to six centimeters now, making good progress," she told them.
"If I make it out of this alive, I swear I'm gonna fix you where you can't do this to me again," Tasha told Data. Will and Soren laughed, but Data looked alarmed.
"She was only joking," Will told him.
"Like hell I am," Tasha muttered.
After a while Tasha groaned. "I feel like I have to push!"
"This time Dr. Crusher didn't have time to make Will and Soren leave before she checked Tasha. "Not yet, hon, you're still only dilated to nine," she told Tasha. "Concentrate on your breathing."
Tasha grimaced. "I can't stand this anymore!" She cursed loudly. Will's ears turned bright red, and Data patted Tasha's hand in an effort to calm her. She pushed his hand away angrily.
A few minutes later Dr. Crusher examined Tasha again. This time she put Tasha's feet up in stirrups. She seemed to have completely forgotten that Will and Soren were still in the room.
"Okay, hon, you can feel free to push the next time you get the urge," she told Tasha calmly. Tasha looked grateful.
Suddenly Dr. Crusher looked alarmed. "The baby's heart rate is dropping. We need to get that baby out of there as soon as possible." Tasha looked absolutely terrified, and Data looked as solemn as Soren had ever seen him.
Soren saw Dr. Crusher cut Tasha with some kind of surgical instrument. Then she knelt between Tasha's legs and coached her.
"Push, Tasha! Push with all your might!"
Tasha's eyes were squeezed shut with the effort. Data, Will, and Soren watched, mesmerized.
Presently the baby's head appeared, and Dr. Crusher saw that the umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck. She deftly lifted it up and over the baby's head, and its heart rate returned to normal.
"One more big push. Come on, Tasha, you can do it," Dr. Crusher encouraged her.
Tasha bore down once again, and the rest of the baby's body slid out smoothly.
Dr. Crusher handed Data a pair of scissors. "You can do the honors, Daddy."
Data calmly cut the umbilical cord, and the newborn wailed mightily.
"Is the baby all right, Data?" Tasha asked.
"Our son is fine, Tasha. You may see him as soon as he is clean." He was busy wiping the blood from the baby's body with a warm washcloth. As he did so he spoke gently to his new son.
"There, little one. You must look nice when you meet your mother for the first time."
Data wrapped the baby in a blanket and gently placed him in Tasha' arms. Tasha smiled tiredly as she cuddled her new son.
Will and Soren stood smiling, their arms around each other, watching the new family.
"Have you decided on a name yet?" Soren asked.
"His name is Alexander Nicholas Yar, but we're going to call him Alex," Tasha replied.
Alex seemed oblivious to everything except his mother's breast. He found what he was looking for and began sucking mightily. Everyone laughed except Data, who watched with intense fascination, a gentle smile on his face.