The Doctor said it's fine – but we're still scared to take her home. We've been here in Sickbay the whole night just watching her sleep.

"We don't have a name for her," he whispers as he gently touches her little forehead.

"We don't have a name for either of them"

"Renee"

"Renee?"

"It means reborn."

He sighs, taking in the larger meaning. "Renee. Yes. Renee Janeway."

/

Everyone we talk to says we have it easy. Renee sleeps through the night most nights. She's a good baby. She's not too fussy, but she still gets cranky every so often. It doesn't feel like we've only known her for 11 days. I feel as close to her as I do to the one growing inside of me.

/

Today is my due date. It's finally here. Chakotay is insistent that I check myself into Sickbay and ask to be induced. I'm beginning to agree with him. I'm getting a little impatient. I'll be sad to let her go. I've loved having her with me every day. I talk to her; sometimes we have little made up conversations in my head. She helps me solve problems and I give her little bits of impromptu motherly advice along the way. But, still I can't wait to actually hold her. I can't wait for him to hold her either. I'm excited to see what she looks like. To tell you the truth, I think that Chakotay is even more excited than I am.

"So," he leans against the door of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel, "what's the plan?"

"Well…" I walk over to him suggestively, you know what they say, don't you?"

"No, what do they say?" he whispers as he gathers my very pregnant body into his arms. I'm flush against his body and I can feel his stirring erection. I don't know how he does it: he's almost 50 and he can't keep it down. He's been just as eager as I've been during the pregnancy. I asked him about it once:

"Chakotay, I look fat, I'm horribly bloated, and I looked exhausted. Why is it that you're constantly itching to get me into bed?"

"Kathryn – do you know how incredibly beautiful you are? The first time I saw you I wanted you and I didn't even know you. And now you're my wife and, to me, you're even more striking. And you are by no means fat; you haven't gained anything other than baby! Kathryn, it's incredibly arousing to watching our daughter growing inside of you."

"They say that sex and spicy foods have been known to induce labour. I think it's scientific fact!" I pull away the towel and giggle. He smiles, "who am I to argue with science?"

/

I've been assured that first babies are the worst; it's all downhill from here. We tried it all earlier today. Our bridge crew arranged it so that Chakotay and I had today off. We tried everything to induce labour earlier in the day. We must have had sex a good four times and though all those orgasms were pretty powerful – they didn't have the desired effect of inducing labour. We even tried spicy food. Harry's mom's replicated kimchi has always been a dish that I've had to eat with a gallon of ice cold water. We tried that. Nothing. Finally at 21:00 hours we put Renee down, got a sitter, and headed to Sickbay. I wasn't going to have this pregnancy turn into a long and overdrawn affair. I'm not that long-suffering; 9 months is enough.

So here we are. It's 05:50 hours and I'm still not fully dilated. My wonderful husband is sitting patiently by my side letting me crush his metacarpals to oblivion at the pain of my contractions. The Doctor is being overly nice and patient with me. He's had plenty of practice with pregnant mothers over the past year enough to know that we require a different kind of bedside manner.

/

"I can't" I collapse against Chakotay's chest.

He kisses my damp forehead and smoothes my sweaty hair back, "yes you can. Just one more – try, Kathryn."

I gather my resolve for what I want to be my last push. I lean against him, bracing myself and I give it my best. It's incredibly painful as her shoulders pass but then it's over. And I collapse against the solid man holding me up.

A cry, her first imprint on Voyager, rings through Sickbay. There she is. The Doctor wraps her in a pink blanket after quickly wiping her off. Here she is. She opens her eyes. Yes, it's her; I'd know those eyes anywhere. They're deep brown, almost black and she's got a full head of black hair. She's got my nose, but she looks just like him. My husband. My love.

I hand her to him. He's trembling but his grasp is firm.

"Vivianna," his whispers to her.

"What?"

"Vivianna. It means life."

Yes.

How is the first line written?

'Here beginneth the New Life'.

A little over a year and a half ago, I began a New Life. I awoke and a clean slate was laid before me. I was able to eschew my loneliness and accept the pervasive love of the man who I am humbled to call my husband. His love opened every broken piece of my heart and healed me. Here beginneth our new life and I can't wait to see where it takes us.