Tom

ooo

Six weeks in, and things are going well. Outwardly, you wouldn't know anything was wrong. Miri is happy to be in kindergarten with her friends here and talks her mom's ear off when she calls.

She's also feeling well enough to fuss about the extra blood tests, even though it means time with B'Elanna, who's joined us for a couple of trips. Did I say fuss? I really meant full-blown tantrum, the last one bad enough that B'Elanna confronted Dr. Hibs about the necessity of frequent visits.

It worked, though. We came to an agreement: We'll go back to once-a-month tests. In between, I'll do a weekly scan with a specially programmed medical tricorder. "It's not as precise," Dr. Hibs said, "but it should give me a good idea as to what is going on."

ooo

Miral's in daycare this afternoon while I work on a project. At the moment, I'm stuck on a coding problem, so I take Molly out for a walk. Coffee sounds good, so I stop for takeout and see Nico sitting at a corner table studying a PADD.

He looks happy to see me and waves toward the empty chair. "How's Miral doing?" he opens.

"Good. She's with me for a few months, back in school." He looks relieved. "I'm glad," he says. "I'm sorry I haven't been around. Been running back and forth … doing statues for a couple of parks in New Iowa City."

We chat for a few minutes, and while I can be pretty obtuse, I get the idea that something is off. "Look, if you need a delivery driver for those statues, give me a yell."

He looks shocked. "Well, thanks. I didn't think … I mean, I appreciate the offer."

OK, something is really off here. "You didn't think I'd offer? Why wouldn't …? You want to tell me what's going on?"

He looks very uncomfortable; I feel the same way. "Well, since Phee and I broke up …"

I nearly drop my cup. "What the hell? Man, I'm sorry."

He looks at me strangely. "You didn't know?"

"Kate hasn't said a word, and she wouldn't keep that quiet. When?"

"Right after the Wisconsin installation. I asked her to move in with me — again. She said no — again. Said she didn't want to move her studio. Then she said that she couldn't live with me. Said I was too needy, among other things."

"Counseling?" I suggest.

"I offered. She said no. So, I said I didn't see any point in going on. And that was it."

"Oh, man." I need to be careful here. "When Miral's mom and I divorced, I got some counseling for myself. It helped me see a few things." Though B'Elanna was really good at pointing out my faults.

He just nods as he stands up. "Look, I need to get going, but thank you. I think a lot of you and Kathryn and Miral."

I stand, too, and we shake hands. "We think a lot of you, too," I tell him. "Look after yourself, OK?"

He leaves, and I sit down and shake my head.

Damon comes up with the coffee pot. "Everything OK?"

"No," I say simply.

ooo

Kate's home a little early, and I quietly tell her we need to talk after Miral is settled. "It's about Phee and Nico." She catches on quickly, not that I'm surprised. "Oh, don't tell me …" I nod, and she shakes her head. "All right, you can give me the details later," she says.

B'Elanna calls after dinner; Kate and I step into the kitchen while she and Miral visit. Her frown deepens as I recount my conversation with Nico. "This happened after Wisconsin?" she asks, followed by what I think is a Bolian curse word. "She didn't say a word at the hospital."

"Think Gretchen might know something?"

"Let's hope so. Once we get kiddo in bed, I'll give her a call."

ooo

Kathryn

ooo

"So, have you talked to Phee lately?" I open when Mom answers the vid. Apparently, I've interrupted something, since she has PADDs strewn across the desk.

"Talked to her this morning. What's up?"

Tom recounts his conversation with Nico, and she just stares at him, her frown deepening, until she spits out a curse — in German, from the sound of it. "Nope, she hasn't said a word. When I ask about him, she keeps saying he's busy."

"It doesn't sound like any one thing caused it," I note.

"Doesn't have to be," Mom replies with a wry smile, and I think I just got an uncomfortable insight into my parents' marriage. "Might be what we've talked about, that she's scared of a stable relationship. I know she gets annoyed with his analytical side. I've had to remind her that the man has an engineering degree, so she may get some of that."

She shakes her head. "It might be that Nico finally ran out of patience. And it could be at a bad time."

"You have the same suspicion as I do?"

"That she may be pregnant? Yes, I do," she admits as Tom's mouth drops open in shock. "I think I may stop by the studio tomorrow after class."

Miral's calling, so Tom steps out. "This is awkward," I say. "I don't want to take sides on this: Nico's been a good friend to us; especially to Tom. And he lives just down the street, so we can't avoid him.

"I would like to know if there's something else going on. I'd hate to have to phaser Nico, but if he's done something to hurt her …"

"In that case, I might join you," Mom says quietly. "I'll talk to her."

ooo

Tom reappears just after I end the call. "You really think Phee is pregnant?"

I shrug. "Biology isn't my strong suit, but some of the signs are there."

"And she hasn't said anything?" Tom shakes his head, then looks at me. "You would tell me if you …"

"Ah, Thomas, we live in the same house. This isn't like hiding a Christmas present. But if it makes you feel better, I have nothing to report."

Is that a blush I see creeping up his neck? He clears his throat. "Look, I'll just say it again. If it should happen, it's OK. I wouldn't mind another kid."

"Not the best time. Miral needs a lot of our attention right now," I remind him. "And it is a bit late in the game for me."

"There are ways around that," he reminds me. "But I'm just saying that if it should happen, we'd work it out."

ooo Much later, as I try to fall asleep, our conversation keeps running through my mind. What I didn't tell Tom is that having Miral has knocked loose some unexpectedly strong maternal feelings. Though I tend to be very careful about how I express them. Miral has a mother. And I know better than to cross B'Elanna. But … I said once I wanted a child with someone I loved. Well, here I am. Is it the best time, or the best situation? Not really. Would it work? I honestly don't know.