(Sequel for "From the mouth of the babes")
By Kay Shadow
Disclaimers: Paramount's. Not mine, never was, never will be. I DO wish!
Authors note: This was mean to be one story thing, that turned in to not only two and three parts, but apparently to at least five as two more are on the way.
Timeline: This story takes off the morning after From the Mouth the Babe. Can be read by itself.
Rated: G
This one's for Anne Rose, Congratulations on #4!
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Kathryn looked at her husband sitting across the table from her and smiled. Earlier in the morning she'd woken up to his loving caresses and ended up making love with him; first in their bed and then in the shower. Now they were enjoying a pleasant breakfast with their daughter, but as Kathryn glanced at the chronometer she realized she'd have to hurry or she would be late. "Chakotay, can you take Shane to Sickbay for her lesson with the Doctor. Seven is already waiting for me in Astrometrics and although I'm not late yet, you know how she is."
Chakotay looked up at her, and nodded. "Sure, I'll see you on the bridge then."
Kathryn walked over to him and bent to kiss him briefly. "Yeah, I won't be long."
She then turned to Shane and kissed her goodbye as well, reminding her daughter to behave herself today before leaving the two to clean the table.
On her way to Astrometrics Kathryn thought about Shane. Her daughter, all of four years old now, a whirlwind and a real troublemaker. At least last night she'd actually behaved like the perfect little angel her father always said she was. Kathryn sometimes had to laugh at the way he continuously defended Shane's stunts. Their daughter had certainly wrapped him around her little finger.
Two hours later found Kathryn Janeway sitting in her ready room, waiting for her Chief Engineer to arrive for a brief consultation. While waiting she thought about the crew's behavior that morning. As she had left Astrometrics she'd noticed a few crewmembers smiling at her. Not a rare occurrence in its self, but the smiles were a bit wider than usually. She decided to let that go, as she saw no real reason to question the good mood of the crew.
When the chime announced she had a visitor, Janeway sat up straighter and called for Torres to enter.
As the Engineer did, Kathryn wanted to frown. B'Elanna was smiling at least as much as the others Kathryn had ran into. Something was definitely up and the Captain wasn't sure if she was going to like it.
"Lieutenant," she said by the way of greeting.
"Captain," Torres countered.
For a few seconds Janeway delayed, expecting Torres to enlighten as to what was so funny but no explanation was forthcoming. Finally she couldn't take it anymore and asked exasperated, "What?"
"What 'what'?"
"Why is everyone grinning at me like they know something I don't? Is Neelix planning another surprise party?"
B'Elanna snorted and kept on grinning widely. "Well, it might be. After all, I hear we have a good reason for it."
Janeway felt confused. B'Elanna sounded as if her Captain should have known what they were talking about and yet, the half Klingon could have been speaking in her other native language and Kathryn would have had more clues as to what was being said.
"B'Elanna what are you talking about?"
"Oh come on, Kathryn! I heard the news already! What am I saying? The whole ship knows!" Torres explained.
After years of experience Janeway knew those words never meant good and she could feel her stomach tighten at the thought. She tried to ask for more specific details, but her friend was rambling on again.
"I don't know how you do it, though, I mean� well, of course it's none of my business but I thought you said you were happy with just one. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for you, all of you� and congratulations."
"B'Elanna slow down," Kathryn said. When her friend finally fell silent, Kathryn continued. "B'Ela I'm sorry, but� what in a world are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about?" B'Elanna was laughing, "I'm talking about you being pregnant."
Kathryn stared at her like she had suddenly grown a second head. When she was finally able to speak, Kathryn stuttered, "but I'm not. Pregnant I mean. No. I'm not pregnant."
The laughter from B'Elanna's face faded, but she kept on smiling, as if she didn't believe what Janeway had just said. "Oh, come on Kathryn! I can understand you wanting to keep it a secret but the cat's out of the bag, so to speak. Besides, you can't hide it forever."
"B'Elanna, I'm telling you. I'm not pregnant! I think I knew if I were, but I'm not!"
Now it was B'Elanna's turn to stare. "You're not? But I thought� I mean Susan said�"
Janeway interrupted her, "Susan? As in Susan Nicoletti? Where did she get this from?"
"Well, I think she said she heard it from Celes."
"Tal Celes? And why would Celes say something like this?"
"I'm pretty sure she heard it from Harry, who in turn�"
"No, no. Let me guess. Your husband?"
"Though I'm ashamed to admit that fact at the moment, but yes it was Tom who told Harry," B'Elanna said, the news of her Captain's non-pregnant state slowly settling to her.
In spite of herself Janeway chuckled a little but then turned serious again. "One more question. Why would Tom say such a thing? He should know better by now. The last time he started rumors Chakotay went ballistic."
"Don't remind me," Torres groaned. "And to answer your question: because the Doctor told him. Or that's what Tom said to me."
"The Doctor? Well, at least I would have assumed he might have considered letting me know before telling everyone else," Kathryn fumed.
"Sorry," B'Elanna offered but Kathryn waved her apology aside.
"It's not your fault. I hope. But believe me, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this, and the one responsible is going to pay!" Janeway promised as she tapped her commbadge. "Janeway to Doctor."
"The Doctor here," he replied, sounding somehow incredibly smug. "What can I do for you?"
Kathryn pressed her hands into fists and in a very tightly controlled voice said, "You can start by telling me what's all this nonsense about me being pregnant!"
"Oh, yes, I was going to call you and congratulate you on that," the hologram enthused.
"But I'm not pregnant!" Janeway looked at her friend who was sitting on the couch trying desperately not to laugh out loud. Seeing Kathryn bristle did nothing to help the engineer.
"You're not?"
Janeway rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Well, you should know!"
"But I was sure when�" his voice died away, a sure sign something had just occurred to him.
"When what?" Janeway's voice was demanding.
"Your daughter told me so herself this morning."
"My� Shane?" She glanced at B'Elanna again, who had now given up on her tries to control herself and was howling with laughter. Kathryn groaned. "I should have known she was involved in this. What exactly did she tell you?"
"Just that she had a secret but you hadn't told her not to tell anyone, particularly me. And I might wonder why the 'particularly' was in her vocabulary as she doesn't usually use that word. Actually, I've heard Shane's mother use it quite often." He paused, waiting for her to retort back but Kathryn bit her lip and remained silent, so the Doctor continued. "Anyway, since you hadn't forbidden it she thought she could share this secret with me. And then she simply told me that her mother is pregnant."
"Alright, I'm going to have to have a talk with Miss Blabbermouth," Kathryn sighed. "And just for the record Doctor, I'm not pregnant."
"Whatever you say, Captain," the Doctor allowed and Janeway disconnected the link once again glaring at B'Elanna who by now was holding her sides and laughing hard.
"This isn't funny, B'Elanna. I'm willing to bet a week's worth of coffee that this is all over the ship by now," Janeway protested.
"I think that's a pretty safe bet. Especially considering that I already told you the whole ship knows. Or think they know�"
"Oh, laugh all you want," Kathryn grumbled and then sighed in defeat. "I better talk to Chakotay, too. He mentioned something about getting weird looks himself."
"Do you want me to come back in uh� let's say 30 minutes?" Torres suggested.
Kathryn nodded and gave a grateful smile. "Thanks, B'Ela. Oh, Chakotay was going to take Shane for an early lunch in about ten minutes. Would it be too much trouble�"
"Not at all, I haven't seen her in a while, I'll be happy to spend some time with her," she assured.
"Thanks," Janeway said as she stood up. "After lunch she's supposed to go to Holodeck one with Samantha. But she can find her own way there so you don't have to worry about taking her."
Now standing as well, B'Elanna straightened her uniform. "Alright. But I'll be here in another 30."
"Very good, Lieutenant."
Without waiting to be dismissed Torres left the Ready Room. Janeway moved close to the door and motioned for Chakotay to come in. He rose from the command chair and handing the bridge to Tuvok entered the Ready Room.
"Chakotay, there's something I have to tell you. You better sit down�"
Meanwhile B'Elanna was on her way to get Shane from the Doctor's care when she almost literally bumped into Megan Delaney and Debra Henley.
"Oh, sorry, Lieutenant," Delaney apologized.
"It's okay, no harm done."
"We were just talking about the big news," Megan explained and then grinned, "So has Tom started the betting pools for the sex, yet?"
"You mean about the Captain being pregnant?" As both women nodded B'Elanna added, "well, I hate to disappoint you, but it was a false alarm."
"What do you mean? She's not having a baby?" Henley said, sounding disappointed.
"That's right. It was something Shane apparently said to the Doc, though why, beats me," B'Elanna cleared already starting to continue her journey.
"Oh. That's too bad, everyone was so thrilled," B'Elanna heard Megan protesting to her friend.
Back in the Captain's ready room, Chakotay was staring at his wife who stood by the replicator, in astonishment.
"They what?"
"Two chicken breast sandwiches and two waters." Glancing behind her she said, "You heard me! You know of all the things�I know they practically live on gossip, but this!"
Kathryn took the tray and carried it to the table near the couch. Chakotay smiled up at her, "Well, the Doc did hear it from Shane."
Kathryn snorted, "Shouldn't that be enough to start the red alert klaxons in people's heads?"
"Kathryn! How can you say that, she's our daughter!"
"She's also the biggest blabbermouth on the ship. Everyone knows that," she pointed out.
Chakotay shook his head but said, "True, I have to admit."
"Now, the question is," Kathryn said while reaching for her sandwich, "what are you going to do about it."
"Me?"
In response Kathryn merely looked at him, as if daring him to argue with her.
Chakotay was halfway through his lunch when Kathryn suddenly rose - in the middle of his story of him embarrassing his mother in front of her in-laws - and dashed to the bathroom.
She had only barely disappeared behind the doors when Chakotay could hear her retching. Concerned, he went to her and upon entering saw his wife sitting on the floor reaching for the towel nearest her. Taking the towel, Chakotay wet it and placed it on her forehead before letting her take it.
"You alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Right, sure you are," Chakotay said unconvinced. "No tell me this, how could Shane know before you, Kathryn?"
Wiping her mouth with the towel she glared at him, unfortunately her 'death glare' had lost a lot of its potential over the years. He was nearly immune. "I just don't feel well Chakotay. I am not pregnant."
He raised an eyebrow, "What ever you say Kathryn..."
As Kathryn was about to retort her commbadge beeped and she tapped it lightly. "Janeway here."
"Mommy, can you come down to Mess Hall? You promised you would come, and I wanna show you what I did," the girl said.
Grasping to Chakotay's offered hand, Kathryn hoisted herself up and looking in the mirror at her reflection she told Shane, "Alright honey, mommy will be there in just a minute."
Running her hand through her hair Janeway looked in the mirror for the last time before leaving the bathroom with Chakotay on her heels.
Arriving to Mess Hall, the Command Team immediately saw their daughter, surrounded by some of the crew, including Tom, B'Elanna, Gerron and the Doctor. Noticing that the Doctor was amongst them, Kathryn groaned. "Not him again."
As Chakotay merely raised an eyebrow, she continued, "I've been avoiding him for the past two days."
"Why?"
"He insists it's time for the check ups again, but I know better," the Captain declared.
"How so?"
Janeway looked at her husband in astonished disbelief, "I just *had* one!"
"Kath, that was a year ago."
"So *you* say," she replied, glaring up at him. "You're all in it together. I know. It's a conspiracy."
Shaking his head he continued his way to where his daughter was already waiting for them while Kathryn made a detour to the replicator to get coffee.
Even as Janeway was getting closer to the group, the Doctor raised his voice and reminded her of her physical. While the others where hard-pressed not to laugh, Kathryn stated that she couldn't possibly, as it took too much of her time and she was busy with work. Secure in her fathers arms, Shane looked on with fascination as the Doctor tried to win an argument with her mother, while Gerron saw this time as fit to 'return to his duties'. Had she not felt like screaming, Kathryn might have laughed.
"It really won't take that long, Captain. It's only blood pressure, the blood count and some other minor things. Things that I could just as well do while you're standing here."
Grunting in defeat Kathryn said, "Fine. Do it."
The Doctor looked at her curiously. "What? Here? Captain, I really think�"
"You have what you need with you?"
"Well, yes�"
"Then do it!"
Frowning disapprovingly the Doctor took out his medical tricorder and started waving it around the Captain.
"Uh-hmmm� Hmm-huh� hmm� "
"What?" Janeway asked.
"Just another minute, there," the Doctor promised and continued to scan. "Hmm�"
She watched annoyed as the Doctor continuously hummed to himself, but never said anything to her. She stole a glance around her and noticed that though most of the crew in the Mess Hall were obvious to what was happening in their little corner, those near them were trying hard not to give in their urge to laugh. Returning her eyes on the hologram in front of her, she saw his eyebrows elevate.
"Interesting� uh-hmmm� indeed� hmmm�"
"Well?" Kathryn demanded. "What is it?"
As the Doctor closed the tricorder he looked at the Captain, "Captain, we have a small situation here, maybe you would like to talk in a more� private area."
"Doctor, I'm due on the Bridge in a few minutes, and there's no one here who's not going to find it out eventually anyway. Here is fine."
"Well, Captain� I'm reading three heartbeats here."
Suddenly feeling dizzy, Kathryn stared at the doctor as if he'd added another head to his matrix. "No. It's not possible."
The Doctor simply looked at her and replied in a dry voice, "Well, either you've grown two hearts or you're expecting twins."
"Twins!!! But Mommy, I don't want you to have two babies! I only wanted one!"
Janeway moved her stare from the Doctor to her daughter, who in her own distress was quite blind to her mothers similar feelings. Kathryn, once again, was rendered speechless. In her back she could feels the eyes of everyone in the room and for once even Tom Paris seemed to know better than to crack a joke out of a situation.
As the silence stretched, Kathryn felt Shane tug her sleeve. "It's okay, Mommy. Two's just as good as one," the girl comforted. "Just think of what Daddy always says."
"What's that?" Kathryn asked, still shocked at the news.
"The more the merrier."
The end.
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