Chakotay rolled over in bed the next morning and found that Seven was no longer beside him. Drowsily he glanced over at her alcove but it also stood empty, a strange sound hit his ears and he rose out of bed and went to the en suite where he saw Seven hunched over and throwing up. "Seven, are you alright?" He realised that he probably deserved to be angrily told the obvious after such a stupid question but he got no response which worried him more. When the sickness finally abated Seven tried to rise and shake off the weakness, embarrassed at being seen in such a state but she was soon glad of his presence as he stopped her from falling during a dizzy spell, his strong arms wrapping tight round her waist. She grabbed the edge of the sink and allowed her forehead to rest against the mirror's cool glass. Chakotay relaxed his grip only slightly, "Are you alright to be alone?"
"Yes…I'll have a shower and then I'll be fine."
"Okay, I'll go downstairs and call work, tell them I won't be in…" Seven couldn't stop a shudder travelling up her body at the thought of what the Doctor was going to advise them. Looking at Chakotay in the mirror she could see her own anxiety reflected in his handsome yet weary face. He touched her arm, "You just shout if you need me, okay?" His concern for her seemed to emanate from every word and touch and she turned in his arms to face him.
"I will be fine." She told him with a conviction she didn't feel, part of her just wanted to cry in his arms, but as she saw his face relax she knew she would have to be strong for him…and their baby.
Seven descended the stairs, feeling slightly better physically after an inefficiently long hot shower and fresh clothing. She was surprised to see Chakotay preparing a breakfast of sorts. He smiled softly at her, pleased that she was looking a little better and indicated for her to sit down. She did and he pressed a hot steaming cup into her hands. "What is it?" she asked.
"Peppermint tea, supposedly good at easing nausea." Seven smiled at his thoughtfulness and gratefully sipped the liquid. "Now what would you like to eat? Cereal, fresh fruit, milk? Milk's meant to be good for babies…" Seven was surprised to feel herself laugh at him softly, if this was what he was like with her now what was he going to be like with the baby? Chakotay turned at the welcome sound and began to laugh himself as he saw her highly raised eyebrows. He's going to be an excellent father, Seven decided, happiness about the baby beginning to escape past the oppressive worry.
Soon enough though their reprieve from their anxieties ended as they entered the Doctor's office hand in hand. Before telling them anything he ran a tricorder scan over Seven. Only when that was complete did he speak to them. "Still on track at the moment, three weeks tomorrow."
Chakotay tried to make that calculation in his head but couldn't. "When's the baby due Doctor?"
The Doctor thought for a second. "Around January 6th I'd say, it's not an exact science."
Seven couldn't bear this talk of due dates when she still so truly feared for the baby's life. "What level of danger is the child in Doctor?"
"You're both in danger." Chakotay winced and looked away for a moment to calm himself. "This isn't going to be plain sailing, there's a very high risk of infant…and maternal mortality." He paused, observing the couple's shocked white faces, dreading saying what had to be said. "Are you certain you want to go ahead with this?"
"Yes!" cried Seven in passionate anger.
Chakotay remained silent and tight lipped for a moment, the words "maternal mortality" had brought home to him what he could stand to lose as well as gain. "Seven, please consider the options…"
"There are no other options!" she stared resolutely at the two frightened men at her side, "Not for me." She whispered, a new determination to follow this through to the end filling her being.
Chakotay took strength from her determination and took her hand, feeling guilty that he had wavered for a moment in his support. "What can you do to help us Doctor?"
The Doctor felt relief course through him, he hadn't wanted to perform an abortion, even though all the possible heart breaking outcomes whirled through his brain. "I'll do all I can, I've been considering the problems and it seems as if you're going to have to become a medical pioneer once again Seven…"
"As is always the case." She murmured dryly in reply.
He decided to ignore that and began to explain his research. "Now, I strongly believe that the biggest risk to the pregnancy is nanoprobe contamination…assimilation before birth." Seven leaned into Chakotay's arm which went round her comfortingly at these words. The Doctor pulled out a vial of some sort of drug. "I tested this new drug I created to slow down the assimilation process last night on some of your nanoprobes and it worked, if you would be willing to try it…"
Seven took the vial in her hand with interest. "It will stop the nanoprobes transferring to the baby with my bloodstream?"
"No, but it will weaken them enough to hopefully be harmless to the baby."
"Hopefully?" Chakotay echoed worriedly.
"Unfortunately it's all theoretical; no former drone has ever gotten pregnant before."
Seven straightened her back in preparation. "Give me an injection now."
The Doctor didn't need to ask if she was sure and prepared the injection. "This is going to be pretty painful and it will weaken you, your implants will become inefficient and less stable." He warned her.
"I will tolerate it." She stated. He gave her the injection and she felt the effects almost immediately, unable to suppress a groan of pain as shocks ran up her implants. Chakotay held her close until it had mostly subsided and the Doctor seemed pleased, telling her to inject it twice a day morning and night.
The next subject tackled was regeneration which the Doctor said was more vital than ever, giving Seven the modifications to be made to her alcove to compensate for her hormonal changes. After they had discussed everything they possibly could at such an early uncertain stage, Seven and Chakotay turned to go and it was only now that the Doctor gave them his heartfelt support with one word, "Congratulations."
The weeks ticked slowly by for both Seven and Chakotay, their anxiety only mounting with every passing day. Seven dutifully injected the drug, the Doctor increasing the dose at every weekly check up. Chakotay tried not to fuss over her, even though her weakened implants and the added burden of unrelenting morning sickness made it seem as if she was deteriorating before his eyes. They had told no one other than the Doctor of their situation, hiding it from even their closest friends from Voyager.
A crack in the wall of secrecy appeared when Seven was just reaching midway through the seventh week. Icheb had come to stay with them and they were all pleased to see each other. Despite this by the last day before he returned to Starfleet Academy Icheb knew there was something very wrong. Seven looked very depleted and he began to fear that she was hiding ill heath from him as she had when her cortical node was failing. Finally on that last evening he returned back to the house determined to confront Seven, his resentment and fear having been built up to boiling point, but he found the house silent. "Seven?" he called, but got no response. He searched through the house before finally hearing something in Chakotay and Seven's room. He had never ventured in here, believing it private but now he entered, seeing Seven suffering another bout of morning sickness. "Seven?" he choked, fearing the worst.
Seven stood up shakily, guilt filling her as she looked into his frightened eyes. "Icheb…" she stared.
"What has happened? Are…are you dying?"
Seven went up to him, knowing she had to break her silence. "No…I'm pregnant…this is a normal symptom for humans…"
The mixture of shock and relief which came over Icheb at this moment and he stared at her. Seven began to feel nervous. "Please do not inform anyone…the child may yet die…"
Understanding washed over Icheb. "Do not worry. Seven, your child is a lucky one. I know from personal experience that you will excel as a mother."
Seven was deeply touched and smiled affectionately at him. As they walked downstairs together now perfectly calm, Seven felt relieved that she had shared her burden.
Almost five more weeks passed before the subject of informing everyone came up again. The first anniversary of Voyager's return came and went without the anticipated party, for Admiral Janeway didn't return from a summit until the end of June and the party was rescheduled for the first weekend in July. It was now the Wednesday before, the day Seven finally got to the twelve week point where the Doctor had said the pregnancy would be considered safe and Seven was dressing for going to her scan. She put on a smart blouse and looked at herself in the mirror, shocked that it both felt and looked tight on her. She removed it again, putting her hand to her abdomen, she wasn't showing yet but her stomach now felt firm to her touch. Must be a big baby, she thought as she put on a more forgiving top. Chakotay watched this slightly amused, "You won't be able to hide it forever, within a couple of weeks now you'll start to show. We should tell everyone at the party." He was longing to share his excitement and joy with everyone and didn't fully understand Seven's reluctance.
Seven stared into the mirror avoiding his gaze, if she was truthful to herself she didn't want anyone to know until it was truly certain and she wouldn't be certain until she had a healthy newborn in her arms. She envisioned presenting a clueless crew with a baby and almost smiled before tension rose in her again. "We'll see what the Doctor says." That would just have to satisfy him for now.
Seven lay apprehensively on a biobed with Chakotay at her head as the Doctor scanned her. Suddenly his face tensed. "I'll have to double the dose."
"Why? What's wrong?" asked Seven fretfully. The Doctor didn't reply and got out the heartbeat monitor. Both expectant parents gave a sigh of relief as the reassuring sound entered their ears.
"That confirms it." Said the Doctor.
He didn't sound unhappy, just stunned and Seven listened for a few moments. "There's two heartbeats." She breathed.
Chakotay didn't catch on at first. "Well of course there is yours and the baby's…" He looked at their expressions and realisation kicked in, and his mouth dropped open."No…"
"Yes. You're expecting twins." Said the Doctor.
Only Seven could find words to say. "Well I suppose my father and Aunt Irene were twins, perhaps I am genetically predisposed…"
Chakotay laughingly kissed her over and over. "Perhaps you should have told me something like that..."
A/n: So are you happy? Sorry it's rushed, my laptop is running out of power. Please review, don't be shy, I appreciate every single one.