AN: Here we are, another piece to this one! There were two yesterday, so please do make sure that you've read both of those before reading this one!

I hope you enjoy! If you do, please do let me know!

111

"Seventy percent, Laris!"

Beverly really hadn't meant to yell, but she'd been overwhelmed—wholly overwhelmed.

Laris, woken abruptly buy Beverly's loudness, but also immediately on-guard because of it, practically leapt up from her position. She backed away from Beverly, on the bed, as she got her bearings about her. Beverly was under no impression that her backing away was about fearing Beverly, per se. Rather, it was about not even being sure what was happening at the moment.

"What the fuck?" Laris spat—a reaction that was uncommon for her, but Beverly recognized that she'd caught her off-guard and probably frightened her.

Beverly calmed slightly just to see her partner wide-eyed, her hand protectively over her belly. And, in calming, Beverly felt entirely unwanted tears rising up.

"Seventy percent, Laris," Beverly repeated, softly this time.

"What are you talking about?" Laris asked.

"The mortality rate of new Romulan mothers and infants is seventy percent," Beverly said. "Sometimes it even says eighty in a few of these files."

"What files?" Laris asked. She ran her free hand through her hair and pushed it back in a tangled heap. "Beverly—forgive me, but..I don't have a damned clue what you're on about."

Beverly tossed the PADD at the bed, so that it landed not too far from Laris. Laris eyed it, but she didn't reach for it.

"I read Starfleet's files," Beverly said. "All the information they've collected on Romulans and Romulan society. Which—by the way, isn't very much, thanks to all your…your secrets and your deception. Seventy to eighty percent, Laris. That's the mortality rate—and you didn't think to tell me? You didn't think, not even once, to mention it to me? This…this is important to me, Laris. This my family! You are my family!"

Laris reached and picked up the PADD. She looked through it almost casually, with her brow furrowed. Finally, she put it back down on the bed and ran her hand through her hair again.

"Right. Well—as usual, your Starfleet lacks some of the pertinent information," Laris said.

Beverly felt herself almost instantly relax to be told that what she'd read was wrong.

"You mean to say that—the mortality rate isn't high?" Beverly asked.

"Oh—no—I'm afraid it's probably quite high," Laris said. "Though, I've never bothered with the percentages. As you said yourself, though, Romulans are not exactly open to sharing everything."

"I deserve to know," Beverly said.

"I wasn't talking about you," Laris said. "I was talking about Starfleet. They don't have the whole picture."

"Laris—you promised me truth. Absolute truth."

"And I have never…never…not even once, Beverly…lied to you," Laris said. "Telling the truth and declaring everything that you know and think are two different things, wouldn't you agree? You have never asked me about the mortality rate. You've never asked me about any of this. We would talk about precious little else, if all I did was share everything I knew about Romulan history and social practices."

Beverly balled her fists up and fought against the tears that were escaping whether she wanted them to or not. She was feeling a bit calmer, but not entirely.

"Laris…"

Laris held her hand up and moved to sit on the side of the bed.

"Come. Sit. I'll tell you what you want to know," Laris said. "Just—I don't care for you standing over me like that."

Beverly accepted that, and she came around to sit next to Laris. Laris brushed her hair back, wiped a few of her tears, affectionately leaned her face against Beverly's, and kissed her softly on the cheek.

"Starfleet doesn't know everything," Laris said. "There are a few reasons why that number could be so high. There are…certain challenges during birth…"

"I read about the…uh…the contractions, and the safer delivery methods," Beverly said. "Slowing progress, however, and relaxing seem to work well…among a few other fairly easily implemented practices."

Laris smiled at her and raised her eyebrows.

"See? I knew that I was in good hands, and there wasn't any reason to worry," Laris said.

"If you know how to have a safe delivery," Beverly said, "then, why would the mortality rate be so high?"

Laris sucked in a breath and looked away, clearly gathering her thoughts. She sighed and looked back at Beverly.

"In Romulan society, there's…no allowance for weakness of any kind. Individuals are…euthanized, I think, is the word you prefer, if they show any sign of weakness or imperfection."

"Killed…" Beverly said, her stomach threatening to rebel. She was thankful that she'd really had very little breakfast.

"Some mothers will choose to deliver in secret," Laris said. "It can be difficult for them to self-regulate with the delivery, and it can result in problems." Beverly nodded her understanding from what she'd read. "Still, some choose it so that, if there is a problem with their child, they have some time to spend with them before…"

She broke off, but her facial expression finished the sentence. Beverly nodded gently.

"Sometimes, they simply want time with their child," Laris said, picking up again. "Most of the time, our children are taken at birth. They're branded and sent to be raised communally—in Children's Houses. We seldom know our actual biological parents and, therefore, we seldom truly know our children. Refusing to give your child up for the communal raising is often seen as an act against the Empire…and many mothers would risk their lives, in secret, for just a few moments alone with their child."

"Go on," Beverly pressed, sensing that Laris wasn't done. Laris nodded, drawing in a breath and releasing it.

"Uh...well…I don't know where their numbers come from, but…if there is anything wrong with the child you're carrying, and it appears that you may not reach the end of your pregnancy, nothing is done to assist you or the child. The strong would survive, you understand? Furthermore—there's little in the way of prenatal care and concern for maternal health."

"Because the strong will survive," Beverly said. "Free of imperfections, nonetheless."

Laris hummed and nodded.

"And if it were found, before birth, that the child you carried had some defect…"

"Your pregnancy would be terminated," Beverly said. Laris answered with nothing more than a facial expression and the slightest movement of her head. "And that's why you don't want me to scan her." Laris's response was simply to flick her eyes away and consider how she might answer to be both honest and, somehow, not to have to put voice to her fears. "Romulans—aren't allowed to show fear. You are a species of such…rich, deep, beautiful emotions. Just not that one."

Laris looked back at Beverly.

"Fear is weakness," Laris said.

"Fear is natural," Beverly said. "And it is allowed here. You don't have to hide your fear from me. I don't want you to hide anything from me. I want to know everything. Answer me with the truth…Laris…"

"Beverly…please…" Laris protested.

Beverly affectionately placed one hand on Laris's belly. She could feel the tension there. Though Laris was good at hiding it, the tension had her entire body tense. Beverly affectionately cupped her cheek.

"Shhh," she soothed. "You're safe here. You're safe with me. Just—tell me. She isn't your first baby, is she?"

Laris took a second, and Beverly allowed her that. She couldn't quite hold Beverly's eyes, and Beverly accepted that, too.

"No child has ever…been born to me," Laris said.

Beverly digested the information. She nodded her understanding.

"I won't ask again," she said. "You are…free to share anything and everything you would like to share with me, but I won't ask again. We'll focus on her. And we will do everything to make sure that she is happy."

"And perfect," Laris said.

"She will be perfect, to us, no matter what," Beverly said. "That's my promise to you. Now—I would like to scan her. I promise that what I find will only be used for our peace of mind, and to make her life better. Can you trust me?"

Laris smiled at her, though the smile was pained, and nodded.

"I always trust you," Laris said. "Entirely. And that's saying a great deal."

"So I realize," Beverly said, "a little more each day. Laris—we're safe here. I think it would be best if we stay here until after she comes."

"And—our little secret?" Laris asked.

"We may have to wait until after that, too," Beverly admitted.

"So, you're going to tell Jean-Luc?" Laris asked.

"I'll have to," Beverly said. "And I will. When the time is right. But—for now, wash your face. Have something to eat. And, then, I'd like to scan her."

111

"OK—just get comfortable while I get this machine working," Beverly said, knowing that she was going to have to do what she could to keep Laris at least a little relaxed.

"What would you like me to do?" Jean-Luc asked.

Beverly had asked him, while she'd been getting ready for everything, if he might be willing to simply stand in and offer some comfort and support. She would be trying to work the machine, which was a model that she'd never actually used before, and she wouldn't be excellent at performing all of her duties. He had, surprisingly enough, practically jumped at the request.

And, now, Laris lie on the bed, still completely dressed, while Jean-Luc stood to the side.

"Hold her hand? What do you think, Laris?" Beverly asked.

"That's fine," Laris said.

Jean-Luc joined Laris on the bed, simply to make the position easier, and took her hand. Beverly glanced at him from where she was trying set things up. She smiled to herself. She couldn't help it. His smile was sincere, and the way that he held Laris's hand communicated, even to Beverly, that he truly meant to offer whatever comfort he could.

Beverly had told him just a little about what Laris had told her, with Laris's blessing, while Laris had picked at what she was attempting to call her breakfast. Beverly assumed that all of them might eat better when the stress of the morning had passed.

"Remember, Laris, that I'm not too adept at this machine," Beverly said. "Any difficulties should not be seen as some shortcoming of you or the baby."

"They should only be seen as the shortcoming of machinery that has become too complicated for us to operate it easily and efficiently," Jean-Luc teased.

"I can accept user error," Beverly said, laughing quietly. She was thankful for his teasing. She was thankful for the way it made her feel, and the way it made Laris laugh, and she was thankful for the easiness after what felt like so long. The easiness made her pulse pick up in a pleasant manner.

"If she's not perfect…" Laris said.

"She will be perfect," Beverly said.

"And if she is not," Jean-Luc offered, "then she will be just as perfectly imperfect as any other being. Laris—perfection is a myth. Not even those, in Romulan society or any other, that would demand perfection can deliver it. She will be as perfect as anyone else…and she will be safe here. You have my word."

A shiver ran up Beverly's spine at Jean-Luc's words and the way that he delivered them. She hoped that neither he nor Laris had noticed, since she wasn't sure she wanted to try to explain her reaction.

The tenderness in Jean-Luc's voice touched the part of Beverly that hadn't heard it in what was already far too long and missed it. She pushed it out of her mind.

"She will be…absolutely safe," Beverly said. "OK—I think I'm ready to get started. Just relax, OK? This isn't invasive, Laris. Not really. I'm not going to hurt you, and I'm not going to hurt her. I'm just going to lift your shirt a little, just so that I have access to your belly, and I'm going to use this disc to get a very good view of what her little home is like, and what she's like. Don't look until I tell you to. I don't want you seeing something that just looks strange, and getting worried, while I'm getting everything situated."

"Look at me," Jean-Luc offered softly, leaning over Laris. "And I'll keep my eyes on your face. I don't want you to feel that I'm invading your privacy, in any way."

Laris smiled back at him. Beverly reminded herself to focus on what she was doing, though her eyes kept drifting.

"There isn't much to see," Laris said.

"Not at all," Beverly said. "Just beautiful evidence that our tiny Romulan is growing well."

"A beautiful sight," Jean-Luc said. "And wonderful news."

Beverly didn't know if he looked at Laris's bare belly or not. She'd pulled her eyes away to study the screen displaying the scan that she was recording for her own study later. She studied the images of Laris's womb—things she wouldn't bother explaining to Laris or Jean-Luc, but things she wanted to see just to reassure herself of the progression of Laris's pregnancy.

Her face burned a little warm as she thought about how tender Jean-Luc was being, as he kept a soft conversation going with Laris to distract her—mostly talk about how wonderful a baby was, and how she would be such a blessing to them.

Beverly had dreamed, at least once upon a time, of hearing Jean-Luc say similar things to her—and mean them—about their own child.

Her stomach clenched, slightly, when she realized that it wasn't something entirely outside the realm of possibility. Though, these days, it was highly unlikely—and she knew that what Jean-Luc was saying to Laris was more for her benefit than any actual declaration of his feelings about children. Jean-Luc, after all, hardly tolerated children, less likely did he actually like them.

"You can look now," Beverly said. "I believe that I have this figured out. Laris—everything is looking wonderful. It looks like it should look. And this? Well—this is our daughter. See? This is her profile."

"I never expected it to look like this," Laris said.

Beverly smiled at the awe in her voice. The image was clear and sharp. It could almost be a photograph in comparison to the images that had once existed for parents to see their unborn children and for doctors to check their progress.

"She is beautiful," Beverly said.

"Remarkable," Jean-Luc said, his tone making it clear that, for at least a second, he truly meant what he said. "She looks quite perfect…"

"I thought you said perfection didn't exist," Laris teased.

"I may have to rescind that statement," Jean-Luc teased back. "Are those…her ears?"

Beverly laughed, mostly because she'd just thought the same thing.

"Those are her ears," Beverly said. "Perfectly pointed, precious little ears."

"They're enormous!" Jean-Luc said with a laugh. "Oh—dear…I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I really am sorry. What I meant was…"

"They're enormous," Beverly echoed with a laugh. "Oh—but don't worry, Laris. She'll grow into them. I'm sure they're not really enormous. They won't be."

"Your ears are rather large," Jean-Luc mused. "Or is that something that's better not said in Romulan society?"

Beverly felt a wave of warmth and happiness in her chest. Far from being offended, Laris was laughing. Her cheeks had gone rather green from the laughter. Beverly noticed that Jean-Luc hadn't let go of her hand. In fact, he held it sandwiched between both of his.

Beverly ached—part of her wished it was her, and that Jean-Luc was holding her hand as they saw their child for the first time and teased about its attributes. The other part of her felt warm and happy—nearly tearful with happiness—because she loved Laris deeply, and she loved Jean-Luc deeply, and to see them happy together felt peaceful and right.

"As long as they aren't large enough to be seen as…as a hindrance…" Laris said.

"Far from imperfection," Jean-Luc offered, "they are a wonderful adornment to an already perfect form."

Beverly felt her heart flutter, and her stomach fluttered, too—or, rather, someone in her stomach fluttered in response to the rush of emotions that was coursing through her body.

She wasn't sure if he'd meant mother or child, and it was clear from Laris's expression that, for at least a moment, she wasn't sure, either.

Jean-Luc sobered a little, perhaps realizing the ambiguity of what he'd said, but he didn't draw attention to it or correct it.

"Well—at least she doesn't have Zhaban's northern features," Laris said with a contented sigh, clearly deciding to ignore what had been said and to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Northern features?" Beverly asked.

"The forehead ridges. It's a Northern trait."

"No," Beverly said with a smile. "She has her mother's forehead."

"Mama, right?" Laris asked. "Isn't that what we agreed? I would be Mama, and you would be Mommy?"

Beverly smiled and nodded.

"She has her Mama's forehead…and her beautiful ears. I do love those ears." Beverly winked at Laris, and Laris smiled.

"Well—and how does she look?" Laris asked.

"Healthy," Beverly said. "Everything is accounted for and right where it should be. Listen…that's her heartbeat."

"That's quite fast," Jean-Luc said.

"It's perfect," Beverly said. "Exactly what we would want it to be." She switched off the machine, and she pushed herself up from her position. "In short, Laris, she is absolutely perfect."

Laris ran her hand lovingly over her bare belly a moment before restoring her shirt to its original position. Beverly couldn't help but notice that Jean-Luc had clearly abandoned the thought of not looking. He had very much looked closely at Laris's swollen belly.

"Her size?" Laris asked.

"You said that Romulan babies are usually seven to ten pounds, if born at full term," Beverly said. Laris hummed. "She's measuring a touch smaller than I would think she should be, but there was a difficult period for her. She'll catch up, I'm sure. And, if she's a little small…"

"Well—she'll still be perfect," Jean-Luc offered, before Beverly could say anything more to complete her statement. "However—a good lunch might be just the thing that's needed to help her on her way toward a healthy seven pounds. What do you say we all have a nice lunch on the patio? And then, everyone can spend the afternoon in whatever way suits them best."

Laris reached a hand toward Beverly and, between Beverly's assistance and Jean-Luc's, they pulled her easily to a sitting position.

"I'm starving," Laris mused. "Lunch sounds wonderful."

"Beverly?" Jean-Luc asked.

Beverly smiled at him.

"As a matter of fact," she said, "I'm starving, too. I didn't have much of an appetite for breakfast, but it would seem that…it's been restored, now."

"Excellent," Jean-Luc said. "I'll leave you two to…finish up in here, and I'll go get started on lunch."

"Jean-Luc," Laris said, tugging his hand when he started to let go of hers. He stopped and looked at her. "Thank you," she offered.

He smiled at her, and then at Beverly for a second, before looking back at Laris.

"My pleasure," he said. "Truly."