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Switched
Chapter 23
Holding each other's hand, Kathryn and Chakotay shared amused glances as a baffled shiny-scalp studied their baby's lifesign on his medical tricorder.
"Most peculiar," he said, scratching his head. "Most peculiar." His hand moved to his chin and he rubbed there. "I can only conclude that our equipment malfunctioned and did not detect the baby's lifesign." His hand returned to his head. "Your cervix was closed. But no lifesign suggested miscarriage in progress." Scratch, scratch. "But then we did not expel...natural expulsion is better if possible." Scratch, scratch. "Our equipment must have malfunctioned. That must be it." Having little choice but to satisfy himself with that conclusion, he put away his tricorder and looked up at Kathryn and Chakotay. "Congratulations. You're having a baby."
They smiled and squeezed hands, every confirmation delighting them.
"We'd like to know the gender," Kathryn said. "Can you tell us?" After thinking they would never know the gender of their child, it was important to them that they did.
"Yes," he answered. "You're having a girl."
Kathryn and Chakotay smiled happily at each other, totally thrilled, but they would have been just as thrilled had the doctor said they were having a boy.
"To have survived such an ordeal," the doctor said, "this baby has to be a fighter, just like her mother. And she's going to have to be. Because of your injuries, this is going to be a high-risk pregnancy. There's a significant risk of uterine hemorrhage, especially as the baby grows."
"Don't worry, doctor," Kathryn smiled. "Junior and I will battle and conquer."
When Kathryn and Chakotay told Gretchen and Phoebe the news, Gretchen shed tears of joy and Phoebe was euphoric.
"The best news I ever heard," she said, hugging Kathryn and then Chakotay. "I'm so happy. Deliriously happy."
"So am I," Gretchen said, also giving her daughter and son-in-law a hug. "Wonderful, wonderful! Congratulations."
"Finally I'm going to be an aunt," Phoebe smiled.
"And I a grandmother," Gretchen added. Even though she knew Lacey had children, it was just knowledge and not a feeling. In no way at all did she feel like their grandmother. Perhaps those feelings would come, but perhaps they never would.
"That's right," Kathryn said, poking Phoebe in the stomach. "When are we going to see a bump on you?"
"Never, if I can help it," Phoebe replied. "Don't get me wrong, Bill and I love children, and I already love this baby-bean like crazy, but that's how we like them...when we can give them back."
Kathryn laughed softly.
"I'll have to get my knitting needles out," Gretchen said.
"Out?" Phoebe teased. "They've never been in. I swear you knit with your nails."
Gretchen ruffled Phoebe's mop of dark curly hair. "Oh..."
"But tell us, Kath," Phoebe went on. "Should Mom get out the blue balls or think pink?"
"You can always yarn it yellow," Kathryn teased.
"Oh, but you must want to know if it's x or y," Phoebe replied. "I sure do. In fact, I'm bursting to know. Don't torture me by making me wait eight months."
"Amen," Gretchen said. "I'm going to be knitting for this baby in my sleep. Don't give me yellow fever!"
"Well, there are other colors," Chakotay smiled. "White, green, orange, cream."
"And anyway," Kathryn said, "who said I won't be dressing a boy in pink?"
"A boy?" Phoebe asked. "Is it a boy?"
"I hope so," Kathryn laughed, "if it isn't a girl."
Phoebe curled her lip. "I know that twinkle in your eye, sister. You do know, don't you?"
"Maybe," Kathryn smiled.
"You do," Phoebe cried. "Oh you evil woman! Put us out of our misery. G or B?"
"In what language?" Chakotay teased.
Phoebe punched his arm. "Smart ass." She then turned to Kathryn. "Oh come on, sis. I'm dying to know."
Kathryn prolonged her sister's suspense with a moment of silence, then smiled. "It's a girl."
"Yay!" Phoebe cried. "A niece!" She gently put her hand to Kathryn's abdomen. "Hi there niece." She then looked at Gretchen. "We should have made a wager, Mom. I know you'd have said boy. I'd have won."
"Unless there's another one hiding in there," Gretchen smiled. "Some say twins have twins."
"Then must be old wives," Kathryn answered, "because only non-identicals are hereditary, supposedly. Whatever the case, I'm definitely mono-embryonic." She smiled. "And it's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"No wonder I've been eating so much lately," Kathryn said, finishing an Irish meal of mash potatoes, veggies and replicated roast chicken. "I've been eating for two. And now that I know I'm eating for two, I can eat like a pig without the slightest twinge of guilt."
Chakotay smiled, but his tired eyes were bleary.
"You look tired," Kathryn said. "And I'm not surprised. You've been here since I woke up and that was hours ago. Go home and get some rest."
"I'll have to go and pick up our things from the hotel first," he said. "But then I'll go home."
Kathryn put her hand on his. "Make sure you do."
"I'm sorry," Chakotay said. "That our honeymoon ended this way. I wanted it to be perfect."
Kathryn looked deep into his eyes. "It was, Chakotay. It was wonderful." She paused. "And as soon as I'm out of here, I think we should go back. Finish our honeymoon. We can't let what happened tarnish our memories. By going back, it won't have."
Chakotay squeezed her hand. "I think that's a good idea...if you're up to it."
"I am." She smiled. "Besides, I have a recipe to get."
Chakotay laughed softly.
"And as we've had to cancel our trip, how about we stay longer? A week? There's so much to see and do."
Chakotay smiled. "Sounds good."
A nurse came into the room and held up a large photograph. "Junior's first picture," she smiled.
In the middle of black was a pink blob attached to a pink cloud.
"Wonderful," Kathryn smiled. "Thank you."
The nurse handed them the picture and then left.
"We'll have to frame it," Kathryn said, looking in adoration at the blob. "With solid gold and diamonds."
"With a plaque reading Mini Myway," Chakotay teased.
"I am stubborn, I confess," Kathryn smiled.
Chakotay looked again at their precious blob. "I can't wait to see her change and grow," he said. "To see an arm, a leg, little eyes and a button nose."
Kathryn lay her head against Chakotay's shoulder. "I never thought I'd have a reason to be grateful to Q, but now I simply love him with gratitude. And as he saved our little bean, I think we should name her in his honor."
Chakotay smiled. "What? Q?"
"No," Kathryn laughed. "I was thinking Minnie. He called her that so if we call her that it will be like honoring him. But of course Minnie would have to be short for something. Something like Minerva or Minessa."
"Minessa," Chakotay said. "I like it."
Kathryn smiled happily. "Then Minessa it is."
END OF CHAPTER 23