5:00 PM
The new mother awoke.
Her baby! She needed him in her arms!
She saw her mate sitting nearby, holding their newborn. She reached out and he immediately handed
her the child. She cradled her baby close, breathing in his sweet scent.
Overwhelming tenderness and protectiveness surged through her being. Her precious newborn!
Never had there been any creature so tender so fragile! But nothing would harm her child!
Not while she lived!
She wasn't the gentle natured botanist that everyone on the Saratoga knew. She was a fierce, protective
mother who would take on a fleet of Klingons if she thought they were a threat to her young!
I am a mother. This is my child.
This was the song that every cell in her body now sang.
Every fiber of her being was demanding that she leave the birthing tent and return to her nest.
To the safe protected place where she and her child could bond in safety.
"Lifemate," she whispered. "My nest. I need to move to my nest."
"Of course, Beloved." Her mate pulled out his comm. "Doctor. We're heading back to our quarters now."
A somewhat sardonic voice replied. "Oh? Do I have permission to return to my own sickbay?"
Her mate couldn't keep an amused chuckle from coming. "You have permission, Doctor. Give us ten
minutes and we'll be out of your hair."
She meanwhile had gotten up from the biobed, clutching her sleeping newborn tightly.
Soon, my precious little one. Soon we'll be in the safety of our nest.
Her mate came beside her and drew her close. She nestled gratefully. She needed her Other Half more
than ever. Over the next seven days she would begrudge every moment that her child wasn't in her arms
and her mate wasn't at her side. Even when she slept, both her soul and body would instinctively reach
for him as he would for her.
As she and her mate made their way through sickbay toward the exit, her sharp ears heard other footsteps.
"Hey, Guys."
Another male's voice!
She looked up sharply and her green eyes met piercing blue ones.
Soul Sibling.
In her primal state, her soul recognized her brother and she relaxed.
"Sister," came another voice.
She looked sharply at the other intruder and her soul recognized her sister.
Ancient knowledge flooded her.
"Those who know your soul have many tasks.
One of them is to simply stand by your side.
"When the Mothering first stirs the mother-to- be prepares her Birthing Nest.
She will leave it briefly for the Birthing Tent, attended by her mate and midwife.
Then she will sleep, for labor leaves a new mother exhausted.
When she awakens, so too does the Mothering fully awaken.
"During the Mothering, the mother will allow no one near.
None save her mate…and those who know her soul.
"Those who know the mother's soul will escort her and her mate back to her nest.
Then they watch from afar to make certain none disturb them.
"Long ago mothers made their nests some distance from the tribe.
Although she would try to make it in a safe place, sometimes predators might attack.
Those who knew her soul would protect both her and her mate.
"As it was in the Ancient Days and so it has been since.
While the new mother and her mate shelter within her nest,
Those who knew her soul protect them both from without."
She didn't speak as she gazed at her Soul Siblings.
But her eyes conveyed her gratitude.
And she knew that they both could feel it.
The tiny party entered the turbolift and then made their way through the ship's corridors.
It wasn't far to quarters and she felt increased relief with each step closer.
Upon reaching their quarters she eagerly stepped in and made a bee-line towards her nest.
As she climbed in she heard voices whispering.
"I put plenty of food out for you both on the table and some by the bed. I'll drop more
off at your door tomorrow at 0:800."
"If you need anything at all we're just a comm away."
"Thank you, D'Ray. Jim."
"That's what brothers and sisters are for. See you guys in a week."
Brothers and sisters.
The new mother nestled close to her baby and her mate slid in beside her, holding her close.
Her thoughts began to focus on her child and lifemate. For the next seven days nothing would
exist for her but them.
But before her thoughts began the bonding, they turned very briefly turned to her siblings,
and she felt a small surge of warmth.