Geia's pov (just to mix it up)

Seeing Carolina walking down the street had intrigued me and I had followed. I could tell that her AI were not pleased with her decision to go out. Well might as well look after her she is pregnant after all. It was a good thing I did as she nearly got hit by a car. Catching her I winced slightly, note to self don't catch pregnant ex-freelancers or work out more because that was a bit of a strain. I had expected that to be the end of our encounter but some how I ended up sitting on her couch covered in a years worth of dirt and learning how to play chess.

When York came in I got a little nervous if anyone would know what was wrong with me it would be that AI of his. "York can you set the table for three?" Carolina asked. York nodded and disagreed into the kitchen. They had a guest coming I best be going. It had been nice to interact with military people again.

"I will be leaving now. I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You don't want to stay for dinner?" Carolina sounded disappointed. Oh the third place was for me. I had never eaten a meal at a table with others before.

"I thought you had another guest coming."

"No. Do you want to eat here? We understand if you don't." She said withdrawing a bit I recognized it as going back to soldier mode where people's acts don't hurt as much.

"No, I would love to stay for dinner." Carolina smiled and rose to her feet.

"Dinner will take some time do you want to wash?" A shower was a luxury I had sorely missed. I nodded and Carolina moved to the stairs. I darted after her ready to catch her if she fell again but it was fine. She showed me the towels and disappeared to give me privacy. I washed the five years of grime off and I was shocked to see my appearance in a mirror. The last time I had gotten a good look at myself clean I had been eight. My skin was a dark carmel color from my time in the sun and my hair was dark and long snarled and in dreadlocks, maybe Carolina would loan me a pair of scissors and I could fix it. I looked at my filthy rags I did not want to put those back on. Then there was a knock and I pulled the towel more securely around my body before opening the door. Carolina stood there a hand full of clothes. "Thought you might want to wear something clean. Sorry they probably don't fit as they are mine for a year ago." I smile and take the clothes happy just to have something clean.

When I come out Carolina stands with a hairbrush but as she eyes my hair I can tell she is thinking the same thing as me. "Can you cut it?" I ask her.

"I'm no hair stylist" She replies but she puts my hair in a ponytail and cuts off the end. It made my hair have an interesting shape which I actually like plus it was short which would make it so much easier to care for. "Thanks."

"No problem." She smiles and turns walking back down stairs slowly. Even pregnant she still walks like a soldier so does York. Clearly you can take the freelancer from the program but not the program from the freelancer.

Third POV

After the plates were clean and York and Carolina had convinced Geia that it was fine for her to stay the night in york's old bed which was down in the basement. The two ex-solgrers sat in their own bed, Carolina leaning against York who was tracing patterns on her swollen stomach occasionally feeling the baby kick. "What do you think?" Carolina asked looking at her husband.

"She's to young to be out there on her own but another person in the house is another person we have to watch out for."

"I like her, it was nice having company." York hummed agreement

"Delta has been quiet he hasn't had much of an opinion of her other than that little bit of logic a second ago." It was odd for the normally analytical AI not to say anything about a new person.

"Eta and Iota were the same way." York shifted behind her his mussels tensing.

"You had both today? Carolina you know that is not good for you!" York had convinced her to trade the AI each day when she became pregnant, wearing only one a day with the other given access to the holodeck should they want to communicate.

"One day won't hurt."

"Carolina you could have the baby any day!"

"I am aware but that doesn't change the fact that I wanted them with me."

"Carolina please stop taking risks at least until the baby is born."

"I'm not going to be some house wife."

"And I wouldn't want you to be. I love you because you are strong and independent but you are also pregnant and your not the only one your risking right now."

"When did you get so wise?" Carolina said with a smile twisting around to face York. His face was more serious than it had been in a while. "I know York and I will be. We may not be on any roster but we are a team even if it is a unusual one" Her hand rested on her stomach "and I will always work to keep us all safe even if that means stepping back" York smiled at her and leaned down slightly so their foreheads touched and looked into her eyes.

"Love you 'lina"

"Love you too York." They kissed and sank further into the bed enjoying each other's company.

The next morning after York had gone to the farm Carolina and Geia started on house work. Carolina had told Geia she didn't need to but the girl insisted. Carolina watched with amusement as Geia tried to understand what the vacuum cleaner was. Clearly this girl had not been in a house of a long time. The work was done quickly as Carolina had cleaned the house every day just for something to do.

After that Carolina showed Geia other games on the tablet and they watched a movie that nether really understood. It was while Carolina was explaining Chinese checkers to her that Carolina's water broke she gasped and her hand went to her stomach. Geia looked up concerned. "Call Sarah." She told Geia who looked panicked at the tablet. Due to a contraction Carolina missed the tablets flashing display which closed the game and opened to a dialer already calling "Sarah" without Geia touching it.

The rings were nerve racking for Geia who didn't fully understand what was going on at the moment. "Hello?" Someone said on the other side.

"Sarah? It's Carolina, my water just broke."

"Okay is there anyone there with you?"

"Just Geia."

"Who? Never mind. Have her unlock the door I will be over in a second. In the mean time have her boil some water and get you a night gown and if possible move the furniture out of the way." Sarah was no nonsense though one would have to be if their job was the local midwife since the nearest hospital was a hour away.

Carolina nodded to Geia who immediately got up. Unlocking the door and putting a pot on to boil she ran up the stairs faster than a cat and after a few seconds came back with one of Carolina's night gowns that she had gotten when she was pregnant. Then the girl quickly pushed the couch out of the way making a sizable space around Carolina who still sat in her chair gasping at another contraction.

The door flew open and a woman that Geia had seen around town entered followed by two other women carrying a collapsable cot. They brushed pass Geia "Get the water girl!" Sarah barked and Geia fled to the kitchen. Coming back into the living room she found Carolina changed and laying on the cot. after handing one of the other women the bowl of water she stood by carolinas head. "Geia take these and the tablet and go upstairs and call York would you?" She pressed a few pieces of metal into the youths hand and Geia nodded. Grabbing the tablet she fled upstairs as Carolina gave another moan. Geia went into Carolina's room and finding a spot between the wall and the bed sat. Opening her hand Geia saw that Carolina had passed her the AI chips and dog tags. She must have taken them off when Geia was in the kitchen. Holding onto them carefully so as not to damage the fragile circuits she balanced the tablet on her lap and pulled up another dialer tapping away at the screen.

"Hello? Carolina? Everything okay?" York's voice was soothing and Geia felt herself relax slightly.

"York it's Geia. Carolina's having the baby."

"Now?" Geia winced as she heard another moan from down stairs

"Yes."

"I will be there as soon as possible. You have the tablet?"

"Yes."

"Feel free to play with it. I am leaving now." The phone call ended closing the dialer and opening it to applications. Geia was going to play a round of chess when she saw the photo she swiped through photos of Carolina making breakfast and york sleeping sprawled in all directions another shot of Carolina practicing some combat and york messing with a lock. A particularly loud cry from down stairs caused her to jump and almost miss it. Part way through the Album was a photo of her crouching on a roof, hair wild and Geia almost smiled she really did look like a cat sometimes.

She was brought out of her surprise by the distinctive cry of a baby. She heard people talking and recognized York's deep voice he must have made it back just in time. She stilled as heavy steps came up the stairs. "Geia?" York asked poking his head in the room.

"Here." She stood up slowly clutching the AI chips and tablet.

"Do you want to see the baby?" Geia nodded walking up to York and passing him Carolina's AI chips and dog tags before walking down the stairs.

"You keep your distance. Don't know what diseases you got."

"It's fine." York said slightly strained but Geia was already absorbed with the little pink creature in Carolina's arms it had a tuff of strawberry blond hair and green eyes.

"Her name is Alison Free"

Too tired toproof read or type a AN. Means they are talking in old english I own nothing

Olive cat