A/N - Once again, I want to thank Bioware for creating these characters and universe. I make no claims on them beyond my own imaginings!
Kaidan spent the time immediately after they arrived in their cabin deliberately acting not thinking. He helped Kat out of her mismatched armor and into one of her loose sleep shirts. The process was hampered by her frequent contractions, but Kaidan took those as a good sign. From what he remembered of his very brief childbirth section in his long-ago first aid courses, the closer the contractions were, the more imminent the birth was. He sincerely hoped for a swift, uncomplicated resolution to this latest crisis – for Kat's sake and for his.
Once he got her comfortably dressed and was in the process of trying to (unsuccessfully) coax her into bed, Dr. Chakwas arrived and Kaidan sighed in relief. Finally, the cavalry had arrived and he could relax somewhat into the role of partner and coach, he thought. The doctor's normally calm and crisp demeanor was a little more harried than usual, but he didn't question it at first.
Dr. Chakwas used her omni-tool to perform scans, and then she stood back with hands on hips.
"Both mother and baby seem to be doing well," she stated and Kaidan noted that the normally unflappable doctor was looking stressed and a bit green around the edges. He swallowed a moment of panic, sincerely trying not to allow the suspicion in the back of his mind to fully form, but Kat wasn't about to let her off that easy.
"Seem?" she growled, doubled over and holding her aching abdomen.
"Yes, well, forgive me, but patching up marines on a warship doesn't involve a tremendous amount of assisting in childbirth," Dr. Chakwas said with a sniff. "And it has been a long time since that rotation in medical school. Frankly, I'm a bit out of my depth here."
"Great," Kat growled. "So we have a doctor that doesn't know anything about birthing babies," she added, a deliberate misquote of an aged but popular Earth vid. "Kaidan, surely you covered childbirth in your first aid training?"
Kaidan sent her a small conciliatory smile.
"We did a section and watched a vid, but it also has been ages and I've never had to put it to use," he told her.
"Shepard, if I may?" EDI's voice floated to them over the com.
"Go ahead, EDI," Kat replied, then groaned as another contraction struck.
"I have been researching human practices surrounding childbirth in anticipation of this event," she told them. "I believe I can provide some assistance."
"That would be great, EDI," Kat replied, relief apparent in her tone.
"Some of the information I have found is conflicting – I will have to rely on you to determine which, if any, is correct."
"That's fine," Kat replied, grimacing in pain.
"It appears that 60.7% of the articles I scanned recommend mobility for the laboring mother, believing that if she continues to stay on her feet and moving that it will make the process shorter and less painful," EDI supplied. Kat managed (barely) to resist sticking her tongue out at Kaidan when EDI's information confirmed her side of their little debate earlier. "However, there are a number of analgesic options available, up to and including a partial nerve block, which contraindicate movement. In the cases where the mother-to-be accepts pain relief, the remainder of the birth is conducted in a sedentary position."
"No," Kat replied firmly when she saw both the doctor and her husband turn to her questioningly, and not a little hopefully. "I survived the geth, Saren, Sovereign, the Collectors, Harbinger, Cerberus and the Reapers… Your son will not defeat me," she added with a glare at Kaidan.
"Shepard, my scans indicate…" EDI began before Kaidan rushed to cut her off.
"She doesn't want to know," he stated firmly, rubbing Kat's back in what he hoped was a helpful and soothing manner.
"Very well," EDI conceded. "The general consensus and theme of what I researched is to keep the mother comfortable and concede to her wishes, as long as they are not too outlandish."
"We can do that," Kaidan replied with a nod.
"As far as the male role in the process, there is far more controversy. I was able to determine that the mother frequently threatens the father with bodily harm, castration and even death, but there are very few cases of those threats being fulfilled."
"Nice to know," Kaidan said with a wince of his own.
"Other than that, there is little agreement as to the role of the father. I have rejected the more outlandish suggestions, such as gathering with your male friends in another room and sharing alcoholic beverages as well as smoking something called cigars. I discarded this based on the strict Alliance regulations against the use of tobacco products and open flame aboard their starships."
"Not to mention that I would kill Kaidan if he left me alone while I'm giving birth to his child," Kat growled. Kaidan smiled weakly and hoped that EDI was right about unfulfilled threats.
"It's ok, EDI. I'm not going anywhere," Kaidan replied, speaking more to Kat than to their friend. "We'll figure it out." He continued to hover near Kat as she paced the cabin, stopping frequently when a contraction struck. Generally, he felt helpless and useless, but he was determined to see her through the process in any way he could.
"I can record and/or broadcast the event if you wish to share it with your friends on board," EDI offered.
"No!" Kat said emphatically.
"Very well, Shepard. Is there any other assistance I can provide at this point?"
"Just stand by if we need you," Kaidan replied for Kat, since she was busy breathing through another pain.
They continued that way for the next few hours, generally letting Kat set the pace and determine what was best for her, up to and including when she finally felt ready to move to the bed and push. Shortly after, their child was born – a girl.
"You were right," Kat said as Dr. Chakwas placed the small squalling bloody bundle in her arms for the first time. Even though she was a mess, and Kaidan had been right that it would be a girl, and her birth was far from ideal or on time, Kat couldn't stop the grin of pride and amazement that spread over her face. She was beautiful, perfect, exactly when and as expected, and most importantly, she was theirs. Kat didn't think she could ever love anything as much as Kaidan (and maybe her shotgun) but she realized the little scrap of humanity in her arms was about to prove her wrong.
Kaidan looked down at his wife and new baby girl and felt tears welling in his eyes. He had watched Kat endure and triumph in many heroic situations, but never had he come close to the amazement, pride and love he felt for her in this moment. And their daughter… Well, Kaidan knew without boasting that he had done some special things in his life, but being a part of creating and bringing into the world the beautiful little girl in Kat's arms was topping them all. He felt a tear spill down his cheek as he stretched out just one finger and stroked the top of her downy head. He leaned over and kissed Kat's cheek, and his heart swelled with the love he felt for both of them.
"I love you," he told Kat. "And you, too, little one," he added softly to his daughter.
"Congratulations," Dr. Chakwas said softly from the side of the bed. "She's perfectly healthy, though she will need a name so I can record the birth."
"Kira," Kat supplied softly. "It means 'beloved' or 'star'," she added with a sheepish look.
"It's as beautiful and perfect as she is," Kaidan replied with a nod. "And you researched girl's names?"
"I figured you'd be right – you usually are," Kat said with a grin. "And I love you both, too."
Kaidan kissed her cheek again and went to touch Kira's soft cheek when EDI's voice floated over the com.
"Congratulations to both of you, but if you are available, Kaidan, Admiral Hackett is waiting for an update via QEC in the com room."
"Duty calls," Kaidan said softly to Kat, kissing her cheek one last time before he prepared to stand up from the bed.
"Go," Kat replied softly, "We'll be fine while you update the Admiral."
"On my way, EDI," Kaidan said as he exited the cabin.
Kat opened her eyes slowly to the absolute and terrifying knowledge that something or someone was lurking in the cabin with them. She peered down at her daughter, tucked comfortably against her chest with her face turned toward Kat, and saw that Kira was sleeping peacefully still. Kat tensed, trying to remember where the nearest weapon was, and then sighed in relief as she saw her husband move into her field of vision, hands raised. She laughed a bit to herself that he knew and read her so well, and smiled her greeting to him.
"Nothing to kill here," Kaidan said with a crooked grin. "I was trying not to wake you, sorry."
"No worries," Kat replied, shifting slightly and wincing when her sore body protested. She patted the bed beside her. "Come update me."
Kaidan climbed on the bed, stretching out beside her but careful not to jostle her, and then leaned over to kiss her softly and run a finger down Kira's cheek before he complied.
"I advised Hackett that we had to deploy the bomb, and EDI has confirmed that there is no trace of organic life in the blast radius via probe. He was satisfied. He also sends his congratulations and best wishes," Kaidan reported. "I would have come back sooner, but pretty much the entire crew stopped me to ask about you and the baby. They have all asked to visit as soon as you feel up to it. And apparently Joker won the baby pool, which I'm not supposed to tell you, but since he is donating the winnings to the War Orphans Fund, I figured he's safe enough."
"Hmmm, how much was the take?" Kat asked with a chuckle.
"1500 credits, I believe," Kaidan replied. Kat gave a low whistle. "Yeah, but he wasn't going to take any chances with 'crazy hormonal Shepard' so he decided charity was the best route."
"Smart man," Kat agreed with a nod. She looked down at her daughter, who was beginning to stir and yawn. "Would you like to hold your daughter?" she asked Kaidan, shifting the baby so that she could pass her off to her father.
"I thought you'd never ask," Kaidan replied as he received the precious bundle from his wife. He tucked her firmly into the crook of his arm and then drew his wife closer with the other. He kissed the top of her head. "She's as amazing and beautiful as her mother," he said softly.
"Let's hope she has her father's dance moves, though," Kat added with a yawn.
"Sshh," Kaidan soothed. "Go back to sleep; I'll watch over you both."
Kat sighed and murmured but she settled in and took his advice. Her daughter, the galaxy, and she were safe, and their future was secure. She could finally rest.