"We don't have a name for him." I feel tears at my eyes as I look down on our little boy. He's ruddy and tiny. The biochamber is keeping him his temperature stable and he's receiving nourishment. I have a firm knowledge that he's going to be fine, but it's still hard to see him so vulnerable.

I hold the little Kitten in my arms closer and kiss her temple. "Bay-be." She says. A big smile emerges from the tears, "Yes. Kitten. Baby. That's your brother," I point. She leans forward and presses her nose against the glass.

"What about…" Wesley pauses. "Aaron."

Aaron. I never thought of the name before. It's a good name. It's a strong name. "We never talked about Aaron before. We were thinking Andrew or Lucas or even Howard after my family if it was a boy, but…"

"I like it. It's fitting." Jean Luc is wistful as he stares at the baby.

"It's from the Bible," Wesley explains. "It means mountain of strength."

I smile. Aaron. His name is Aaron.

/

"Well," I begin, staring at the Christmas tree. "Wes, it looks like you and I are on tree duty this year."

Wesley doesn't look at me as he stares on. "Yup… I honestly thought it was going to be a girl."

I turn to him. "So did I."

I feel Jean Luc come up behind his. "Wesley, should we take the baby upstairs?" There's something in his voice and I know he's up to something.

My suspicions are confirmed when recollection dawns over Wesley's face. Within a moment, however, he tries to act calm, collected, and serious, "Yes."

"What's going on you two?"

"Don't look at us; it was Kitten's idea."

Saoirse's lost in her own world as she ambles around the tree, amused by the golden bulbs on the lower branches.

"Kitten," Wes beckons softly. "Kitten," she looks up and smiles at us but remains standing at the tree.

"Kitten come over here. We'll open presents soon!" She's laughing for some reason. Her personality is so much like Wesley's when he was her age. She's quiet and amused by almost anything. Everything to her is wonderful and new.

"Wesss-" she plops down at the base of the tree and giggles. Wesley's amused by her use of his name as he saunters over to pick her up.

My free hand latches onto my husband's as I turn to him. He's holding Aaron against his shoulder. Aaron's time in the NICU was short. Unlike in the past where premature babies had to remain in incubators for a good length of time, biochambers enhance neonatal growth even more than a womb. They use a combination of intense nutritional supplementation and physiologic temperature to speed maturation time. He's put on 3 pounds and his lungs were able to develop quickly. He'll still need care, but we're able to provide that adequately from home.

A feature that I appreciate about this house is the layout of the second floor. The master bedroom is set apart from all the other rooms by a long hallway. Coming off the hallway are three bedrooms. One belongs the Wes, the other to Saoirse, and now one to Aaron. We hadn't arranged his bedroom before this. Jean Luc and Wesley were in the middle of winter exams. And the practice is at its busiest around Christmas time. Many of our patients are either just seasonally ill, or are coming in for vaccinations needed for travel. A lot of the vaccines needed for travel within Federation planets are given during childhood. But, a few of them require boosters.

"What have you boys been up to?" I have an inkling that they've gone and set up the baby's room while I was in the hospital. With a pass over the sensor, the room comes to life. My breath catches as I look at the wonderful job they've done. Saoirse's still using her own crib, but we purchased another one similar in size and colour. It's beautiful all set up. The walls are a creamy colour and a multicoloured rug brightens the room from below. A mobile hangs above the crib and I laugh at what's suspended on it: little shuttles. I think the mobile was Wesley's idea. A rocking chair and ottoman sit in front of the large window. It's too much and I'm overwhelmed.

"It's perfect," I whisper.