Seven sat peering at the twins, lying side by side under the ultraviolet light used to treat jaundice, and smiled softly when Aylen whimpered unhappily as she moved her hand over to Michael. "Don't be jealous Aylen, I'm still here." She murmured gently as she manoeuvred to give both of them equal attention. They're not even out of the hospital yet and already I am finding it difficult to split my attention, what's it going to be like when they're Miral's age? The memory of when Tom and B'Elanna had brought the sixteen month old in for a visit came back to her, yes if Aylen and Michael followed in her troublemaking footsteps then she and Chakotay were in for a difficult few years, though she knew they would be enjoyable at times too or else no one would have children.

"Hey, how is everything?" Chakotay's soft voice behind her interrupted her contemplative mood. She turned her head towards him as he sat down beside her and greeted the babies. "How are you feeling today? I've missed both of you and Mama so much." Seven smiled at his naturalness with them, she knew he wasn't enjoying being back at work as he had been for the last two days after taking the first two weeks of his paternity leave after they were born to comfort her and reassure himself. She was sure he'd still be staying at the hospital with her if she hadn't made the argument the rest of his three month paternity leave could be better put to use once the twins were home.

"They're doing well today. The Doctor estimates that they'll only need two more days under the lamps." She told him happily, in this situation she found that it was better to be grateful for every small step forward rather than focusing on how far there was to go.

"Great!" Chakotay enthused, "Bet you're bored of blue by now, aren't you sweethearts?" he told the babies, tickling their exposed feet. "Did the Doctor have any other updates?"

"He'll come round on the evening shift soon to see us, but this morning he lowered the volume of oxygen Michael's on and they're both gaining weight at the level he wants."

Chakotay stroked Michael's stomach gently, "So your lungs are getting better, that's good son." He said proudly before turning back to Seven. "Aylen's still the same with her breathing?"

Seven swallowed the lump in her throat. "Her lungs aren't maturing as quickly as the Doctor would like but they're almost the same weight now." Michael and Aylen had had different problems since birth, Michael's weight had been constantly fluctuating, he'd been bigger than Aylen at birth but had had difficulty even maintaining his birth weight let alone gaining any. Aylen on the other hand was still on the ventilator as her brother became less dependent on assisted breathing.

Chakotay put his arm round his wife's shoulders and pulled her closer. "How are you feeling?"

"The Doctor says my implants are almost back to their pre-pregnancy condition." She stated lifelessly, her own health was a low priority to her at the moment.

This wasn't the case for Chakotay; he exhaled heavily in relief and gave her a tender kiss. "You're still feeding them yourself?"

"Yes, the Doctor is pleased." She didn't actually get to hold them as she fed them that was a long way off. The process involved a pump and several tubes, it wasn't exactly the most comfortable of duties but after the pain of childbirth it was a minor inconvenience in the scheme of things.

"I don't want you to feel pressured, if you don't feel up to it…"

"There's a woman with triplets managing." She pointed out.

"I know but…"

"Chakotay, I'm fine! Until the Doctor advises me otherwise I will continue." Seven said in a tone which meant that the conversation was at an end.

Chakotay allowed the matter to rest. It had been her plan after all and he knew that Seven never let go of plans easily. He just worried that she was doing too much, even in the hospital. He didn't think she realised how close to death she'd actually been and he felt she wasn't recuperating enough. The conversation he'd had with the Doctor concerning this hadn't helped, the Doctor had sided with Seven saying that she was under the best medical care and pointed out that it wasn't doing any harm for her to feed them and that it was probably better for her mental health to feel she was doing something for them.

The Doctor came in at that moment and approached them with a scanner. "Good evening." Seven and Chakotay both murmured replies and watched apprehensively as he scanned the babies. He smiled at them reassuringly. "They're both doing well, on track for going home in four weeks I think if they keep improving like this." Both Chakotay and Seven beamed at him in relief. "Speaking of going home, is Chakotay taking you back home tonight like I suggested Seven?"

Chakotay whirled his head around to look at Seven, head low and biting her lip. She hadn't told him anything but the expression on her face told him not to start a confrontation and he turned back to the Doctor. "Are you sure Doctor?"

"Yes, or else I wouldn't be suggesting it. Her implants are normal now so there's no medical reason for her not to be discharged." Chakotay stepped away from the babies with the Doctor and spoke with him privately before agreeing to take her home and returning to Seven alone and taking her hands.

"Don't you want to come home sweetheart?" he asked quietly.

"I do but…"

"They'll be fine. You can't visit them during the night anyway and you can still spend all day with them and feed them…"

This rationale had already occurred to Seven but for once her hormone charged emotions were fighting the mental battle hard. She looked into his eyes and saw understanding and sympathy in them. "I don't want to abandon…it's not fair…" she choked out with difficulty.

No it's not fair. Chakotay mentally agreed with his wife even as he hugged her tightly. "It could never be abandonment my love, not when our hearts are here. They're getting better and we need a break to rest before they come home with us…I'm lonely without you Seven…"

Seven pressed her damp face against his neck. She was lonely too, sometimes she felt as if she was going mad. It was selfish for her to occupy a bed in the hospital when another expectant or new mother may require it. She glanced at Aylen and Michael before saying to Chakotay. "Let's go home."

The transport back to Flagstaff and the short drive home were conducted in silence. Seven immediately ascended the stairs intending to escape into the oblivion of regeneration and then return to the hospital as quickly as possible in the morning but her traitorous eyes looking through the nursery door stopped her in her tracks. She stared into the empty room for a moment before fleeing to her bedroom and sinking onto the bed, her hands clenched into tense fists in her lap as she fought a futile battle with her tears. Get a hold of yourself; they're fine in the hospital! She mentally berated herself as she saw Chakotay enter the room through tear blurred eyes. He came to her and pulled her into a lying position on the bed where he could cuddle her properly. "It'll get better I promise…" he whispered into her ear.

"Did you feel like this when you came back here?"

"Empty, lost, upset, all those things. You know the first day I was supposed to go back to work I didn't go, I just sat here. I don't think I moved all day."

Seven felt guilt stab her. In here, alone? "It's only four weeks." She mumbled bravely, more to herself than to him.

A/n: Don't hate me, at least Seven's out of hospital. I'll update tomorrow. Please stick with me and review, it'll get fluffy again soon!