"Xavier," Peata hit her husband to wake him. It was still early but their son was coming now.
"Hmm," Xavier mumbled. He opened one eye to look at his pregnant wife.
"It's time," Peata said.
"Time for what?" Xavier looked at the clock in their room. It was two in the morning.
Peata hit him again. "Our son is coming."
Xavier eyes widen. He rolled over and got out of bed. He ran a hand through his hair and took a breath. He had been through this before when they had their daughter, Riley. Riley, their two-year old daughter was sleeping in her room. She had to go to his parents. He looked back at his wife to see how she was doing. She was timing her contractions. "How far apart?" He asked.
"About twenty minutes," Peata let out a breath.
Xavier nodded and pulled on some pants before leaving the room and calling his parents. He had to call twice before his dad answered. Xavier could see that his dad had just woken up. "Dad, the baby is coming, and I need you or Mom here to take care of Riley."
Tom smiled. He saw what a wreck his son was and remembered what a wreck he was when B'Elanna went into labor with their children. "We'll be there soon," Tom told his son.
Xavier nodded and ended the call with his dad. He knew it wasn't going to take long before his parents were here. Xavier ran upstairs to check on Riley to see that she was still asleep. He made his way to his bedroom to see his wife trying to get out of bed. Xavier ran over to her and helped her. He helped her pace their bedroom. She gripped his hand as a contraction passed.
He heard his parents come in. Peata and he made their way downstairs to see his parents. He was grateful that his parents lived so close to them. "The transporter is waiting outside for you," Tom told his son and daughter-in-law.
"Thanks," Xavier said. "Riley is still sleeping," He grabbed the bag that they had next to the door.
Xavier helped his wife out of the house to the transporter. He told the transporter to go to Starfleet hospital. Xavier told Peata to take breaths as they drove to the hospital. They were shown a room once they got to the hospital. Xavier helped his wife get comfortable as she could in bed. Their doctor came in to check on them and to say that everything was going as planned. Peata gave the doctor a look. Xavier held her back before she said anything to him.
It was early in the morning before their son wanted to make an appearance. The doctor and the nurses came in. Xavier held on to Peata's hand as it was time to push. "You got this," Xavier mumbled to her.
Peata had time to throw him a look before she was told to push. After several pushes the doctor could see the head. Peata pushed the head out and before they knew it. The rest of their son came out crying. Xavier looked at a blood-covered baby to see that he looked like his sister with the Klingon ridges and the Bajoran nose. He was perfect to Xavier. Xavier got to cut the cord. He smiled at Peata as they placed him on her chest. Xavier kissed her. "He is perfect."
Peata smiled down at their son and held him before they took him to clean. Xavier stayed by Peata's side as they cleaned their son. "The bleeding isn't stopping," The doctor said. Xavier and Peata both looked at the doctor.
"What is going on?" Xavier said as he shared a scared look with his wife.
The doctor looked up at him. "There must be a tear in the uterus wall. We are going to have to do emergency surgery, or we are going to lose Peata," The doctor and Xavier both looked at Peata to fainted.
Xavier shook his wife. "Peata," Tears started to pool when she didn't wake.
"Mr. Paris, I'm going to need to take her into surgery now." The doctor shouted. Xavier nodded and moved out of the way as they took her out of the room.
Xavier looked around the room to see that he was the only one in there. There were bloody rags on the floor. He had to leave this room. He stepped out of the room and took a breath. He looked at the nurses' station. He knew where the nursery was and made his way there. He stood by the door and tried to open the door to see his son. A nurse was coming out of the nursery.
"Are you looking for something, sir?" She asked.
"Did they bring Baby Paris here?" He asked.
She smiled and led him into the room. Xavier looked at the babies until they came to his son. The name tag said Baby Paris. Xavier looked at his son before picking him up and held him close. He knew that they still didn't have a name for the baby. He didn't know if he could name him without Peata. There was chair that Xavier fell into as he held on to his son. He didn't know if he could survive without Peata. She was his world. They talked about leaving Starfleet and designing ships for the common person.
He didn't know if he could raise their children, by himself. At some point they were going to need their mother. Xavier knew that he would have his parents and his family to help. He was going to need his wife. She was the love of his life.
Xavier looked at the baby to see that he was looking at him. His eyes were blue, Xavier wondered if they would change to green like his sister or stay blue. Xavier lifted the hat that was on his head to see that he still had no hair. Xavier wondered if it was going to be black like his mother or blond like him. Xavier sighed, got up, and placed the baby back in his bed. He left the nursery and called his parents to let them know that their new grandson was here.
Xavier asked after his wife at the nurses' station, and she was still in surgery. He took a breath and found a seat in the waiting room. He ran his hands along his pants as he waited to hear about his wife.
"Daddy," Xavier looked up to see his daughter running to him. Xavier held out his arms for her to take. Riley jumped into them. He held her tight as he looked at his parents. His dad handed him a coffee.
"Thanks," Xavier tried to smile.
"Daddy, where is Mommy?" Riley looked at him with her green eyes. That reminded him so much of his wife.
It was her question that finally broke him. Tears started to fall down his face. He pulled his daughter close and held her. He felt a hand on his back. "Xavier," He heard his mom say.
Xavier looked up at his mom. "Peata is in surgery. There was a tear in the uterus wall."
Xavier saw the look on B'Elanna's face. "I'm sorry." B'Elanna looked at her husband to see that he was frowning too.
Tom looked down at his young granddaughter. "Hey, Riley, why don't we go and look at the babies?" Tom held out his hand for her. Riley took her grandfather's hand and jumped off Xavier's lap. Xavier watched his dad lead his daughter towards the baby. He felt his mom take his hand as they sat there waiting on news on Peata.
The doctor came out and looked around for Xavier. The doctor sighed as he came up to Xavier. "Mr. Paris, your wife is okay. She is sleeping in recovering and you should be able to see her in a few minutes. There is something else. You and your wife will not be able to have any more children." Xavier felt his mom squeeze his hand.
"Okay," It was all that Xavier had to say. They had planned to have a house full of children. "Let me know when I can see my wife," The doctor nodded and left Xavier and B'Elanna.
Tom came back with Riley. There was a smile on Tom's face. "I just saw the newest member of the family and he is handsome Paris man."
Xavier smiled. "Thanks Dad."
"Why don't you and Riley take me to see the new baby?" B'Elanna stood and took Riley's hand. Tom looked at Xavier and nodded.
Xavier took a moment before a nurse came and took him to the room his wife was staying in. Xavier entered the room to see his wife was still sleeping. He made his way to the chair next to the bed, took a seat, and grabbed Peata's hand.
Peata woke to see Xavier next to her. He was gripping her hand. "Xavier," She said.
Xavier looked up and she saw how sad his eyes were. "Peata, love," He reached over and kissed her. "How are you feeling?"
"Good. What happen?" She asked. She looked around the room. "Where is our son?" She didn't see the bassinet anywhere.
"Peata, you had to go into surgery, and they took out your uterus and we cannot have more children." Peata closed her eyes. When they got pregnant with Riley, they talked about having a house full of children. When they decided to try for another baby, they felt that it was right. Now that dream was gone. Xavier leaned closer. "We can either adopt or live with the two that we have now."
"Do we have to decide now?" Peata asked.
"No." Xavier said.
"Can I see my son, now?" Peata wanted to hold her baby.
Xavier left and came back with a nurse, who checked Peata. Another nurse came in with a baby cradle. Peata sat up and held out her arms to hold her son. The nurse gave Peata the blue bundle. Peata looked down at her son to see that he was like his sister. Peata started to cry because he was going to be her last. She had a feeling that they would only have the two that they have now.
"Did we decide on a name for him?" Peata asked. She couldn't stop looking at her son.
"We had narrowed down Brice or Dabo," Xavier looked at his wife and son. "I think it should be Brice."
"I agree. Brice Owen Paris," Peata said.
There was a knock on the door and Tom popped his head in. "Are we up for visitors?" Peata nodded. Tom came in with B'Elanna and Riley. "Mommy," Riley came running up to the bed. Xavier picked her up and placed her on the bed. Peata showed Riley her new baby brother.
"Riley, this is your new baby brother, Brice," Peata smiled. Riley looked at him.
'Okay," The little girl said.
Peata looked at her in-laws. "Would you like to hold your new grandson?" Tom and B'Elanna nodded. They came up and held Brice. Soon Tom and B'Elanna were taking Riley home and Peata getting some sleep that she felt that she didn't need,