Hannah sang softly to herself as she constructed a sandwich at the kitchen counter. She'd never really been one for music, but with motherhood only a few weeks away, she'd decided she needed to brush up on her lullabies. She was still humming when she heard the door swoosh open from the living room and a voice call out.

"'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' tonight, huh?"

She smiled and turned as Daniel walked into the kitchen. "How was your day?"

"I don't care how draining my day is, having you here is all that matters." He walked over, linked his arms around her waist and then drew back, scrunching up his nose. "What are you eating?" He bent over and sniffed the plate on the counter. "Is that…a tuna and cinnamon sandwich?"

"Uh, yeah," Hannah affirmed.

"Yuck!"

"Don't knock it. I can't help what I crave."

"At this rate, our baby's gonna love tomatoes slathered in chocolate, marshmallows speared on pickles and now…cinnamon and tuna sandwiches?"

Hannah giggled. "I don't think what a mother eats actually means her baby will eat it later. Old wives tale."

"Yeah, well that's good news," Daniel spoke as he wandered back into the living room, Hannah following. "I don't think I can keep paying for marshmallows imported from Earth." He tromped down the hall to the bedroom to change out of his work clothes. Hannah sat back against the couch and set the plate on her belly. She had to admit that pregnancy had its advantages; a built in pedestal for her meals was one of them.

She took a bite of the sandwich, then placed it on the plate and chewed thoughtfully. Daniel put in long hours at the docks. As he was now in the reserves, he'd had to find a civilian job to supplement their income. He worked as a mechanic on the ships brought in to Mythos Station for quick fixes and upgrades. Maddock had been true to his word. He'd found Hannah a position on the SSV Newton with the understanding that she'd go on sabbatical for twelve weeks, six before the baby was born and six after. The Newton was attached to Mythos Station and regularly returned after ferrying scientists and explorers through the Charon Relay. In the last seven and a half months, Hannah had been able to see Daniel regularly, every two weeks or so.

Mythos had quickly become home. Hannah would have preferred to stay on the other side of the Charon Relay, but being back in the Sol System did afford them the option of seeing her parents more often. Her parents had decided to take their first space flight and come visit them once the baby was born. Her mother had expressed interest in seeing Pluto up close for the first time. Mythos Station had been hastily built in orbit around Pluto when the mass relay in the system had been discovered. It provided a military and scientific base from which to proceed through the relay. Over time, it grew as military officers posted their families at the station, thus opening the way for entrepreneurs with an adventurous spirit to make a go on the station through various shops and entertainment venues. This resulted in a small, but adequate environment for living comfortably at the edge of the system.

Hannah glanced at the hall as she heard Daniel pace back down it. The pattern of his gait still hinted at a slight limp, though this was oblivious to anyone but her. He strolled into the kitchen. She heard the microwave spin for a while and then he came back out and plopped down next to her on the couch.

"Sorry I didn't make dinner," Hannah apologized.

"I didn't want cinnamon and tuna," Daniel joked, smiling at her. "It's okay. We had leftovers from last night. You're too busy making a baby to make dinner."

He took a bite of spaghetti, then reached over and rubbed her belly. "Six more weeks and we get to meet her."

Hannah put her hand on top of Daniel's and squeezed it. Then she jumped slightly. "Did you feel it?"

"Yep." Daniel grinned. "She's strong."

"I think her kicks get bigger when you're around. It seems she reacts more anyway."

Daniel leaned down to her belly and spoke into it. "Keep on growing healthy and strong for your daddy," he gave advice to her belly.

Hannah laughed. "She'll certainly know your voice." Every time she returned to the station, Daniel talked to her belly almost constantly, wanting to make up for lost time. She thought back to when they'd found out they would be having a girl. She'd been worried Daniel would be disappointed, but he'd actually handled it well. He told her he'd have to work out more at the gym to make sure he could keep up with two stubborn women in the family. She became certain he was okay with having a girl when she'd arrived home one time and discovered a tiny pink onesie folded up in his sock drawer. When she'd pulled it out, she'd laughed aloud at the words emblazoned on the front: "Don't ask me for a date; my daddy carries a shotgun." When she'd confronted him with it, he'd sheepishly explained that a peer at the docks had welcomed a little girl recently and told him about the store that sold the onesies. He'd gone in just to browse out of curiosity and came back with a purchase. She'd then chastised him over the color—girly pink, her least favorite color. Then they'd had to discuss the question of how much pink they were going to allow her to wear. It hadn't been an argument, but a silly and intense discussion over the color of their daughter's clothes. They'd finally come to the agreement that no more than 10% of her clothes would be pink.

Hannah finished her sandwich and looked over to Daniel who was slurping up the last of his spaghetti. "I'm tired," she mentioned. "And my back's been killing me."

Daniel took her plate from her and put both his and hers on the coffee table. "Turn around," he instructed. Hannah did as he asked and he massaged her back, loosening up her tight muscles. Hannah rubbed her belly. She wondered what life would be like in six weeks, how it would all change, how she would change. You couldn't add another member to the family without things becoming radically different. She still hadn't figured out how having a baby fit into her destiny. She'd never considered having a child a part of her plans, not even when she'd married Daniel. She knew he wanted kids, but she assumed that would come way down the line when she'd established herself in a prominent position in the military.

"Thanks," Hannah muttered after Daniel stopped rubbing her back. She lay down on the couch and used his lap as a pillow while he grabbed the television control and flicked on the screen on the far wall. A movie appeared, its subject an attack by aliens on Earth. Hannah snorted.

"People still think when we meet aliens, they'll be hostile," she spoke out derisively.

"They could be," Daniel answered back.

Hannah looked up at him as he looked down at her. "I know you keep a neutral opinion on the whole thing, but I don't get why they'd be our enemies. I know the first thing we'd do is be diplomatic, so I don't see they'd need to attack us."

"You just never know," Daniel asserted. "They'll most likely have a whole different culture from us, different ideas of how things are done, maybe even different ideas of what's right and wrong. I mean, they could think killing and dominating another race is positive."

"I guess," Hannah spoke doubtfully. She understood his point and it made sense, but she still hoped in her heart of hearts that if aliens did exist, humanity would get along with them.

When the movie finished, the hero having destroyed the alien force and saved the galaxy, Daniel gently lifted Hannah's head off his lap and stood up. "My leg is asleep," he groaned, pacing back and forth, stepping gingerly on his left leg. Hannah turned on her left side and snuggled up against the back of the couch.

"You're not going to sleep on the couch again?" Daniel asked once his leg had returned to normal.

"It's the best way to get back support," Hannah explained. "I sleep better that way."

Daniel sighed, walked over to the couch and leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek. "I want to meet our baby, but even more than that, I want you back in our bed." He flashed her an impish smile.

Hannah raised her eyebrows at him. "If you think we'll be having a lot of sex once we've had her, you're sadly mistaken. Do you know how tired we're going to be?"

"I don't care," Daniel insisted. "I'll make it happen."

"Sure. Good night."

"Night," Daniel echoed, then sauntered down to the bedroom for a good night's sleep.

Around 0200, Hannah awoke from sleep which was nothing new. Nowadays the baby kicked often during the night, forcing her out of slumber. But this time, something felt different. Her abdomen and lower back throbbed with sharp pain and she felt like the life was being squeezed out of her. She groaned, sat up, and felt a whoosh down below. Reaching her hand down, she realized the couch was soaked. Her heartbeat quickened. It wasn't time yet. This couldn't happen now.

"Daniel!" she called out. The bedroom door remained closed so she called out again louder. "Daniel!...Daniel!" Finally, the door to the bedroom slid open and Daniel appeared at the end of the hall, his hair disheveled, rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"I think…my water just broke," Hannah breathed out, trying to speak in spite of the squeezing in her abdomen.

"What?" Daniel's eyes popped open wide and he rushed to her side. "It's not time."

"I know. But I think she's coming anyway." Hannah doubled over, her hand below her belly, trying to breathe like she'd been taught.

Daniel sprinted to the comm unit in the kitchen. Hannah heard his brief conversation as he talked to someone at the local hospital. He ran back into the living room, sitting next to her on the couch and holding her shoulders.

"I'm scared," Hannah gasped, grasping his hand. "What if she can't live without me yet?"

"She's going to be fine," Daniel assured.

"You don't know that."

Daniel paused before answering and Hannah read his delay as confirmation of her fears. "Seriously, she'll be okay," he finally reasserted.

A medical team arrived at their apartment and quickly shuttled Hannah and Daniel down to the hospital. They threw Hannah into a gown immediately on arrival and wheeled her on a gurney to a room where they transferred her to a bed. Dr. Reece, her middle aged obstetrician, was already in the room.

"We're having a baby today!" Dr. Reece spoke cheerfully. Hannah wondered how she could be so happy in the middle of the night with a preterm birth imminent. Dr. Reece recognized Hannah's fear and patted her shoulder. "You're almost 35 weeks. I promise babies at this stage of development survive. Don't worry."

Hannah wanted to trust her doctor, but her worry wasn't swayed. However, she didn't have to entertain the emotion for long. Soon her mind was dominated by the process of labor. The nurses gave her medication for the pain, making everything a whole lot easier. Daniel held her hand and urged her to push when the doctor gave him the go ahead. Hannah thought the labor took forever, but in little over five hours, Dr. Reece announced the baby's head had appeared and the rest of her would follow directly.

Hannah watched Dr. Reece's face and caught a look of concern. Daniel had leaned over to watch their daughter enter the world. "She's here," he'd whispered. But the baby didn't cry.

"Why isn't she crying?" Hannah asked.

Dr. Reece didn't answer, concentrating on using a small bulb to suck out the baby's mouth and nose. A weak cry whimpered through the room. Dr. Reece handed the baby to a nurse. "Take her to neonatal, stat."

"What's happening?" Hannah asked, trying to sit up, but too tired and numb to do so. She only got a glimpse of her baby as she was hurried out of the room.

"Go with her!" Hannah suddenly shouted, letting go of Daniel's hand. "Stay with her."

"Okay. I'll come back soon," Daniel promised and followed the nurse out the door.

Dr. Reece pulled down her surgical mask as she walked to Hannah's side. "I think she'll be fine. Most likely her lungs just haven't developed completely. We need to hook her up to a ventilator."

Hannah nodded, her mind in turmoil. Lungs not fully developed? Ventilator? All she wanted to do was see her baby and somehow protect her. "I want to see her."

"You need to pass the placenta first," Dr. Reece explained. "She's in good hands. Don't worry."

After thirty minutes or so, Daniel returned to the room, grinning. He jaunted over to Hannah and kissed her on the forehead. "She's gorgeous, Hannah. Five and a half pounds of tiny and perfect."

"You aren't worried?" Hannah asked, still struggling with fear.

"She's on a ventilator, but they say that will only be for a few days. They'll help her lungs mature during that time."

"I want to see her."

Daniel looked to Dr. Reece who nodded. "Let me get you a wheel chair."

When the wheel chair arrived, Daniel, aided by the nurses, helped Hannah into it. He pushed her down to the neonatal ward and up to an incubator. Hannah sat up straight, as tired as she was, and peered in on her baby girl.

She was small and pink and completely bald. A tube protruded from her mouth, but her little eyes were open, directed at her mother, and she stretched her arms and legs.

"Can I touch her?"

"Through here." Daniel pointed out the two circles on the incubator that allowed her to put her hands inside. He slid back the cover over one of the holes and Hannah slipped her right hand inside, gently holding her daughter's small hand.

"You'd better make it, little one," Hannah whispered. "I haven't spent all these months protecting and nourishing you just to lose you."

Daniel placed a hand on Hannah's shoulder. "We aren't going to lose her."

Three days later, Hannah, though still recovering from labor, felt much better and was able to walk down to the neonatal unit herself. She'd spent every waking moment next to her daughter. The tiny infant grew stronger by the day and Dr. Reece had decided that today the ventilator could be removed.

When Hannah entered the unit, she found Daniel already there. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and smiled encouragingly. A nurse arrived and they went to work removing the tube. Their baby coughed softly, then took a large breath. She could breathe on her own.

Hannah felt relief spread throughout her tense body. Daniel squeezed her shoulder. All they had to do now was wait for Dr. Reese to release both Hannah and the baby. While they waited, the nurse picked up their daughter and handed her to Hannah. Hannah sat down in a recliner by the incubator and snuggled the infant in her arms. She was so small and yet so strong, mewling and pushing against Hannah.

Daniel tapped the incubator and Hannah looked up to see him pointing at the identifying name on the lid: Shepard. "She needs a first name."

Hannah shook her head. "If you'd agreed to my choices, we'd have one."

Daniel shrugged. "Sorry." They'd had numerous discussions about various names, but hadn't been able to choose one. Everything he liked, she didn't and everything she liked, he didn't. They wanted a name they could both agree on. "How about Juliet?" Daniel's eyes twinkled.

Hannah rolled her eyes at him. "No." She didn't want her daughter to unwittingly copy that flighty romantic fatalist from Shakespeare.

"Well, there's still one name I haven't suggested, but it's my favorite. A good, strong name."

Hannah half turned her head to him, eyeing him with one eye, wary of the name he was about to suggest. "And it is…"

"Hannah."

Hannah smiled. "I'm flattered, but how would we distinguish between us?"

"Use her middle name?"

"And now we're back to square one. What would her middle name be?"

Daniel tapped the incubator again, thinking. Suddenly, he spoke out quickly. "Jane."

"Jane?" Hannah played with the name in her mind. "It's simple. Straightforward."

"Not very girly," Daniel added, knowing Hannah didn't want anything too prissy.

"Why Jane?"

"My grandmother's name," Daniel stated with a faraway look. She could tell he was remembering the woman who had meant so much to him growing up. His grandmother had been his rock in a world of instability.

"Hannah Jane Shepard," Hannah recited, wanting to hear it aloud. "Rolls off the tongue easily."

"So…" Daniel intoned, his eyebrows raised.

Hannah gazed down at the baby in her arms, her eyes closed, fast asleep. It was a good name, a name she hoped would carry her daughter into a bright future. "Hannah Jane it is."

When Hannah and Jane were released, Daniel caught a shuttle to take them back to the apartment. As they reached the door, Daniel hesitated before entering.

"Just, don't get mad," Daniel warned Hannah.

"Wait. You didn't…"

"There aren't many of them."

Hannah stomped her foot lightly, as she was carrying Jane swaddled in her arms. "I hate surprise parties."

"I'm telling you so it won't be a surprise," Daniel clarified, his eyes laughing. Hannah frowned at him. "Look, I just had to show her off, just a little."

"Alright," Hannah grumbled, knowing grousing wouldn't change anything at this point. The door to the apartment slid back and she was met by cheers of congratulations. Daniel had invited two couples they'd made friends with when they first arrived on Mythos, Brad and Tamara, who they had over for coffee often, and Michael and Sarah, their gaming buddies who came over to play games almost weekly. He'd also invited his co-worker, Brian and his wife Denise, who'd had a baby girl five months ago. Everyone oohed and aahed over Jane, chatting and giving advice on how to handle the first few months of her life. They'd also brought gifts, which were well appreciated since Jane had come early and they hadn't furnished the entire nursery yet. Now they had a changing table, a swing and a plethora of clothes and feeding accessories, not to mention diapers galore. Hannah was taken aback at the generosity of their friends.

After a couple hours, their guests left, leaving them alone with Jane. Hannah carried her to the bedroom and placed her in the bassinet next to their bed, then collapsed onto the bed herself. She kept propping herself up on her elbow to get a look at the infant breathing deeply next to her. Daniel changed into his pajamas and slipped in next to Hannah. He peeked over her shoulder, staring at Jane.

"We made a miracle," Hannah whispered.

Daniel nodded. "That we did."

"She's going to do something great, I know it."

"I thought you were going to do something great."

"Oh, I will. But I just have this feeling she will, too, you know."

"So I should prepare myself for the onslaught of reporters that will mob me wanting interviews about the two famous female Shepards?"

Hannah turned and punched him in the arm. He laughed, drew her into his arms and hugged her. "So, do you want to…"

Hannah yawned. "I just want to sleep. Besides, Dr. Reece said we can't for at least three weeks."

"Are you kidding me?"

"You'll just have to wait, lover boy," Hannah muttered. She closed her eyes and smiled when she felt Daniel's lips brush her cheek.

"We don't have to wait to make out."

Hannah opened her eyes. "Tomorrow, okay?"

Daniel sighed, but laid back down on his side of the bed. "I'm considering that a promise," he declared.