"You're glowing."
"You're dreaming, Chakotay" I smile.
He grins at me from across the breakfast table. "Do you know something I don't? Have you been adopting the doctor's bad habit of running the medical tricorder behind my back?"
"No," he smirks, "but you are glowing. Maybe we should check?"
"No. I don't want to get my hopes up." My hand wanders to my stomach. Are you there, little one?
/
It's lunchtime. I'm not hungry. I don't even want coffee. That's unusual. My stomach's been sour since breakfast. Morning sickness? No. It can't be. I would know if she was here. I'm playing that old game again. If I tell myself she's not here and I do everything in my power to convince myself that's the case, then I can't be disappointed.
/
"Chakotay, would you stop it!" He's staring at me again – he's scrutinizing me. I see his eyes wander to my chest, trying to see if there is any growth in the "boob department". He's making me self-conscious.
"I'm telling you. She's in there! Please let's go to sickbay. We'll know with just one pass of the tricorder!"
"No!" I jovially smack him on the arm. "Get back to the bridge, Mister!"
He nods his head and smiles, "Aye, Captain". The doors hiss shut behind him. I laugh at his giddiness. She can't possibly be here.
Just as soon as he's out the door, the chime sounds again, "Come".
"B'Elanna, what can I do for you?" She's showing already. Five months ago, Tom and B'Elanna announced they were pregnant. Tom is so excited. He's going to be a great father. He's determined to be. He wants to be the father that he always wished he had. Owen Paris is a wonderful man. He's always been good to me. His encouragement and his interest in me got me through the Academy and some of the toughest parts in my early career. But, with Tom, things were rocky. Isn't that the way it is sometimes with families? My own father and I, even though I adored him, had our own share of rockiness. Tom is determined to be everything his father isn't. It drives B'Elanna crazy sometimes. "He's too overprotective!" she complains. But secretly she loves it. But don't tell her I told you that.
"Captain, we've drafted up some schematics for the nursery, a future classroom, and possibly some extra crew quarters on the lower decks. Neelix thinks we'll be able to condense some of our storage into just two cargo bays."
I take the padd from her hand, "this looks great, B'Elanna!" I'm pleased. Voyager is handling to new crew additions seamlessly. Three babies have been born already. We have 20 new couples on board – 13 of them married now, 6 engaged. I love what Voyager is becoming. Its sterile walls are being filled with new life – new love. It's very satisfying for a Captain to watch grey alloy made into a home. I was afraid that it was just going to be little Naomi running this ship all be herself in 60 years!
"Captain?"
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Permission to speak freely?" a smile tugged at her.
Smiles are infectious, "Go ahead".
"You're glowing."
"B'Elanna, you're just as delusional as my husband."
"No. No. You're definitely glowing. And I think you're boobs are bigger".
My hands move subconsciously to my chest. Since I got married, B'Elanna and I have become closer. Our relationship was rocky at the start of our journey. She was always fighting me – me and everyone else! Poor Joe experienced he brunt of her fiery Klingon temper when she broke his nose. But, she's evened out - a testament to her growing maturity: her development from a girl to a woman.
I miss Phoebe terribly. Every day I think of all the time we're missing. I regret that I was never a proper big sister to her. I was single-focused when I was younger. I had Starfleet blinders on for most of my life. She and I never really had girl talk. We never gossiped about boys or talked about kissing and sex while painting our toenails. But now, with B'Elanna, I have a second chance. She and I have grown close. I'm grateful for her.
"Chakotay said the same thing over breakfast and just a few minutes ago. Did he put you up to this to make me go to Sickbay and check?" And he would do that too. Sneaky man.
"No, I haven't spoken with Chakotay today. But you should go check."
The door chimed again, "Come".
The cool blond is nothing if not graceful, "Captain, the scans from Astrometrics that you requested". She hands me the padd and I summarily peruse it while she continues, "I have found four M Class planets within the next 4000 light years. Two are inhabited and rich in dilithium. Should I chart a course?"
"Yes, Seven. Is that everything?"
"Seven," B'Elanna turns to look at me while she asks the question, "don't you think the Captain's glowing?"
"Humans do not glow, Lieutenant. However, if you are referring to the Captain's-"
"Enough!" I laugh, amused by everyone's insistence, "I'll go to Sickbay".
Seven raises her eyebrow and B'Elanna smiles at her victory, "Dismissed".
What the hell? Can't hurt to check.