From: Kim (kimtoussaint_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Feb 28 2007 - 21:42:37 PST
"The Zanders and Aspinall pregnancies"
A Novella about amusing family issues in the
aftermath of the Andalusian Disaster
by Kim Toussaint
( continuing from Peter's post "That'll teach you" -
in our current storyline )
____________________________________________
Location: ATS AVISFORD
Scene: Bridge
Time index: An hour after leaving sickbay
Stardate: 2.70228.2126
____________________________________________
Maddie and the Civilian XO had the bridge of the
Aspinall family transport ship when the Admiral
emergeced from the lift. He almost gasped when
he saw Maddie - the image of the tiny embryo
they'd found nestled between the soft tissues
of his torso still haunted him.
It wasn't even quite half an inch long yet and
the first thing Harper'd asked when he found it
was, of course, if there was a safe way to remove
it. The child wasn't genetically his.
Xyrillian Granules only extracted DNA from
the mother.
Scans showed, though - the embryonic sack was
already integrated with his tissues so completely,
surgery to remove it would do massive damage to
his heart and lungs.
And so, there he stood - looking at Maddie and
knowing that he was carrying a part of her
inside of him.
"You have to tell her." Daisy had chided him.
He'd scoffed. "She's been through enough already
and we don't know if it will survive. No point
in telling her right now."
"Not yet." he argued. "She loves Ronnie like
a sister and is worried sick for her. Ty and
Xandy are both a wreck. How much should
one woman be expected to deal with?"
Both Daisy and Aerdan finally surrendered once
he told them his plan for how to handle the
situation.
Now, it was just a matter of convincing Maddie
without her suspecting anything.
The half-Vulcan woman looked tired when he
approached. Still she asked him,
"You ok, sir?"
He smiled broadly. "I'm fine - and I have good
news."
Maddie sighed with relief. "I could use some."
He nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Ronnie will be released in your custody on the
condition you take a borg Medic with you to monitor
her condition for a few weeks."
Maddie blinked, confused. "Take her with me,
where? We still have to begin the clean-up efforts on
the surface once the storm subsides."
He shook his head. "Not you, you're taking a
vacation."
Maddie laughed weakly. "Excuse me?"
Harper rolled his eyes and sighed. "Maddie stop being
such a martyr. It's ok to step back. Your family needs
you. Ronnie is free to go because she's entirely organic
now. The Borg want to keep tabs on her recovery - so
they want you to take a medic with you. Ty, Xandy and
SAHRIV...I know your heart is breaking for all three of
them as well. Tomas and Rosie could use time with
their Mum, too."
Maddie hung her head, looking almost guilty.
"Even the lizard is lonely for some quality time with
you." Harper smirked - twisting his knife of family
obligationsjust a little more.
She looked up, smiling. "Stop calling Qvar 'the Lizard',
she doesn't like that."
He laughed. "The point is I'm ordering you to take a
vacation. I will take command here. Peter and Drake
are both more than capable of continuing to take care
of Daisy's XO duties. "
She tilted her head to one side and looked at him
questioningly.
"Are you sure you're up to this, sir?"
He beamed at her confidently. "I gave you an
order, Captain."
Heads turned and people smiled as Maddie
suddenly threw her arms around him. He sighed and
hugged her tightly in returnas she muttered, her head
resting on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Harper."
He gulped with relief that she was accepting his orders.
Hoping to see her come back in a few weeks, rested
and happy - her family back on track - he was satisfied
*THEN* would finally be a better time to tell her what
their lab accident had created.
Providing, of course, the embryo and he were both
still doing well.....
"You're quite welcome, Maddie." he whispered.
She pulled back, smiling and started to leave.
Then, she turned around and asked,
"What about Tomas?"
The Admiral tensed awkwardly. "That's
going to take a little more time to negotiate...
they are a little more nervous to let go of
him...."
Maddie's face tensed up. She muttered.....
"Perhaps I should...."
"You should follow the orders I'm giving you...."
Harper chided her gently. "The Zanders family
is going to enjoy a nice, long holiday. I insist.
Tomas will be fine."
Her shoulders fell and she surrendered with
a warm, trusting smile.
"Yes, sir."
________________________________________
Location: Earth's Moon, New Berlin City
Scene: Underground Fight club, Fighter's locker
room
Time index: After a fight
______________________________________
"You were marvelous, hoo-man" the Ferengi almost
purred as he spoke to the Israeli.
"I wanted a Grazerite." Zuri grumbled angrily, ignoring
the compliment. Shaking off his sweat, he spat out
his protective mouthpiece into the titanium bucket
Zooba's provided.
"Always with the 'Get me a Grazerite'...." Zooba
groaned. "Baffles me why you hate them so much.
Finding one to get in the ring with a beast like you...."
the ferengi snorted. "It's like trying to find a female
still willing to chew my tube
grubs for me."
Zuri rolled his eyes. Undoing the string that tied his
glove with his teeth, he certainly had no intention of
discussingthe memories of Anagar and the
TESHUACREI that still haunted him. Instead, he
grabbed the tiny fight
trainer by the throat.
Zooba shrieked, genuinely frightened. The israeli
only lightly tapped the back of Zooba's head against
the nearestwall and hissed coldly.
"A Grazerite for tomorrow's fight or I walk."
Zooba's eyes were wide with fear and he meekly
whispered,
"I'll get one, I promise."
Relieved, Zuri sighed. "Good."
As he let go of Zooba, the doorchime beeped.
Again, angry...the former Starfleet officer yelled.
"Go away, I have 20 more minutes to finish getting
cleaned up and changed."
The door opened anyway. Two armed Starfleet
Security officers walked in and calmly took side positions,
obviously heralding the entrance of one that outranked
them both.
A Romulan in a Captain's uniform walked in as if he
owned the club. His shoulders were broad and straight.
For a second or two, he raised his eyebrow in a typical
vulcan expression. There was an unmistakably sinister
quality, thoughn - that was uniquely Romulan.
"Lt. Commander Davidson...."
Zuri chuckled. "Not for a long time....what is it,
Captain?"
"Captain Zoreck....I've come to recall you to active duty."
the Romulan informed him rather cheerfully.
"Piss off." Zuri sniggered rubbing his perspiration
drenchedhair with a towel.
"Your skills are needed and you are not in a position
to refuse me, Mr. Davidson." the Romulan continued,
not missing a beat.
"I resigned, Captain." the former Operations officer of
the USS PROPHECY replied flatly.
"Technically, no....." the Romulan pointed his finger.
"You didn't. You took an extended leave. I'm
recalling you."
"Fine." Zuri laughed weakly. "Then, the first order of
business will be my resignation. I quit. So, piss off."
"You're going to learn that I always get what I want, Mr.
Davidson." Zoreck informed him gleefully.
"Why are you here?" Zuri demanded.
"As I said, your skills are needed once again."
The Israeli rolled his eyes and groaned.
"I don't care."
"And how about the well being of your son? Do you
care about that?" asked the Romulan calmly.
Still wearing the traditional trunks of a boxer, the
shirtless israeli stepped slowly towards the Romulan
Captain.
"Excuse me?"
"Gavirosh Davidson has the duel citizenship granted
automatically to every one of Ornarian descent. That
means your adoption of him is subject to both Ornarian
and Federation laws...."
"I assure you, I have full custody of my son." Zuri
warned him coldly.
"Ornarian adoption laws come with a morality clause,
Mr. Davidson. One message from us to the Ornarian
homeworld about your weekly trips here to participate
in these highly illegal underground fights...."
the Captain paused there, rather smugly....because
he knew he didn't have to finish that sentence.
"You would endanger a child?" Zuri stared at him.
"Oh, come now..." the Captain scoffed. "I'm sure
they'd find a perfectly love foster home for him...."
The Israeli flew into a rage, pushing the Captain against
the wall. His two body guards jumped the Israeli
instantly, pulling him away.
"As I said, you'll learn very quickly that I always
get what I want...." gloated Captain Zoreck, somewhat
breathless from the tussle.
Still pinned against the wall, the Israeli's face
finally reflected what the Romulan had been looking for.
Finally, he saw fear and submission and he knew that he
had him.
"It's not necessary that you like me, Mr. Davidson.
Our mission, though - is of the utmost importance and
you will obey orders. If not for the sake of your
own career, then for your son. Is that understood?"
Zuri gulped,
"Yes, sir."
______________________________________________
Location: Earth
Scene: Israel, Davidson family home
Stardate: 2.61203.0655
Time Index: Approximately three months ago
__________________________________________
December through February are the most rain-filled
months of the year in Israel. Zuri sat calmly on the front
porch of his family's home there. With a strong cup of
coffee to keep him warm and the outter edge of the
house's roof over him to keep him dry, he enjoyed
a good view of the rain. It was soothing, almost
meditative.
Rachel stepped out next to him.
Alone together, they spoke in hebrew. She told him
there was a transmission waiting for him in the house.
He blinked and asked, "From where?"
"Andalusia 7."
He sighed, expecting it was yet another reason work
or the pregnancy would keep Daisy from coming to
visit Gavi. The pressure on him to take his son away
from the peaceful routine they'd found during this time
away from Starfleet was growing. Strangely, enough -
even Gavi and Rachel were giving him looks and little
sighs that indicated they weren't as happy as they
used to be.
In a resentful snit, the Israeli sat down at his desk
and pressed the button to recieve the message.
Daisy's face lit up on the screen. She quickly
pulled her hair forward on the left side, to cover
the small medical patch behind her left ear. That
wasn't enough, though - to hide the biobed consul
mounted behind her. Zuri knew in an instant
that she was contacting him from a hospital bed.
This wasn't a direct signal, though - it was a recorded
message. All he could do was listen.
{{"Hi." }}
She paused to clear her throat and then sighed.
{{ "Do you realize it was almost a year ago now that
Maddie locked us together in the brig - hoping we'd
reconcile? I still had no clue just what you'd been
through until I listened to you talking in your sleep....
the nightmares you had..." }}
He grimaced, hoping she'd stop talking on that
subject. As if she actually heard him, she raised
her hand.
{{ "Don't worry. I'm not rehashing all that. I've
had a long time to accept there was nothing I
could do for you. You needed to get through
that on your own terms. " }}
She smiled at him. He knew from the obvious
fact that she was in a hospital bed that something
must be "wrong" - but he couldn't see what. She
was obviously still pregnant and she glowed. It was
almost eery, this calm and relieved "glow" that just
washed off of her.
{{ "I've needed, though " }} she added. {{ "To
do something that makes your life a little easier.
It's killed me a little every day that I could do nothing
to ease your pain or lift your burdens in any way.
Nothing I could do seemed to help save our
family. }}
He sighed and looked away uncomfortably.
{{ "I still love you, Zuri. I always have. And, I
know what you need from me. I've been resisting
giving it to you.....but, I.....}}
She sighed awkwardly. {{ If I don't get another
chance, here it is. }}
The screen changed from her face to a legal
document. Her voice continued.
[[ "It's legally binding. It sets you free. I'm
giving you back the one thing I have left from
our marriage - my rights as Gavi's Mom. You
don't ever have to worry about my fighting you
about custody or trying to force you to do
anything you don't want to do. ]]
He blinked. The screen changed to her face.
{{ "I'll....." }} she sniffed. {{ "I'll keep writing to
him for as long as you let me. But, I know you
don't feel the same way about me anymore - not
the same way you did when you let me adopt him.
And, I love you. I want you to be happy. I can't
think of anything else that might help you BE happy
anymore - except to set you free from any
obligations you have to me. " }}
The Israeli stared at her intensely. An Andorian
nurse approached with a Tricorder. Daisy motioned
{{ "Give me a minute, please. " }}
She sighed. {{ "I love you, Zuri. And, I still want
very much to be Gavi's Mom. But I know Gavi needs
peace and stability. And I know you were left
powerless and you were hurt. And, I guess I really
wasn't a very good wife. I'm not even a good Ex-wife.
I forgot Hannukah this year, didn't I? I'm sorry." }}
Daisy quickly changed the subject back. {{ "You're
a good Dad, though. So, here it is. All the power
when it comes to what's left of our little family - is
your's. Please be happy and take care of
yourself. }}
She sat quietly for a second. Her hand touched her
enlarged stomach. Her eyes moved to where the
nurse was obviously still waiting. Then, she made
another sniffling sound and simply muttered.
{{ "Bye" }}
___________________________________________________
Location: ATS AVISFORD
Scene: Suite belonging to Irene and Paul Aspinall
Time index: Present - same as Harper's scene
with Maddie on the bridge.
___________________________________________________
The comm system beeped.
[[ Incomming message for Commander Davidson. ]]
Daisy sat up, yawning. Then, she smoothed
her hair with her fingers and staggered to a nearby
desk.
The sight of her ex-husband's face on the screen
nearly made her jump. She gasped audibly.
"Zuri."
His hair was longer than she remembered. His face
was tanned. He only made eye contact for a second
or two before glancing down at the lower half of
the screen her gigantic pregnant belly occupied.
{{ "Well, look at you...." }}
Her hand went to her stomach and she shrugged.
"Yeah, another three weeks to go....maybe four...."
There was an awkward silence. Then, she asked,
"Is Gavirosh ok?"
{{ "He's fine, of course. I'm sending you
the forms you need to reinstate your rights as
his mother. I never asked you to give up our
son, Daisy. " }}
She looked away, uncomfortably.
"Yes, I know. You don't ask me for anything
anymore...except to leave you alone. What
better way to assure you, finally - that I'll
do that - if that's what you really want."
{{ "Gavirosh needs you in his life." }} Zuri
shot back interrupting her. {{ " He needs
a mother more than I need your pity." }}
"Does this mean you'll finally bring him to
see me?" Daisy shot back, hurt reflecting
in her voice.
{{ "I was told I can't." }} Zuri argued.
{{ " Something about a quarrantine? " }}
Daisy sighed, remembering the cloak of secrecy
they'd had to erect around ANDALUSIA 7.
"Right. Things got complicated here."
Zuri sighed. {{ "They always do with you,
don't they?" }}
"That's not fair." Daisy glared at him, rubbing
her pregnant stomach.
Ignoring her complaint, Zuri continued.
{{ "I have to leave for a while. Gavi will be
with my mother. If I haven't come back for him
by the time you deliver those babies for Peter
and his new husband - come and get him." }}
"And where will you be?" Daisy asked. Her face
softened and she looked genuinely concerned.
{{ "Let's just say things got complicated here,
too. }} Zuri replied cryptically.
{{ "I've been recalled to active duty and I have an
assignment." }}
The legal document reinstating her parental
rights came through and she studied it.
"For you to do this, after months of getting only
the silent treatment from you, keeping my
relationship with Gavi limited to subspace letters
and care packages....is everything ok?" she
studied his face thoughtfully. "Where are they
sending you, Zuri?"
His face softened, as if moved to see that she
was concerned for him. Then, he looked away,
uncomfortably and sounded rather dismissive
as he said,
{{ "I'll handle it, Daisy. That's all I can
tell you. " }}
Hurt filled her eyes and she laughed weakly.
"Right, of course you will. What was I thinking?"
With a sigh, Zuri changed the subject.
{{ "Gavi loved your last package. He made me
take him to the Alps to try out the winter sports
gear....we had fun. " }}
She smiled weakly. "Tell him I love him and
I'll send Erek and Erika to come and get him now,
if that's ok with you. Admiral Ranta cleared
Maddie's family to leave. I think he'll let Erek
and Erika go, too. "
Zuri nodded. {{ "He'd love that. Thank you." }}
Daisy smiled weakly. "By the time they get back,
hopefully I'll have had these babies...."
Zuri smiled weakly. {{ "Bye, Daisy..." }}
Her face contorted with worry and she struggled
to return the same weak, polite smile back to
her features. Then, she replied in little more
than a whisper.
"Bye, Zuri."
After the face of her ex-husband was gone, the
doorchime rang. The massively pregnant woman
waddled to the door and opened it.
Cade Foster stood there smirking and carrying a
medical kit.
"As if I don't have enough to do today, " he lied,
teasing. " I drew the short straw and got stuck with the
tedious business of coming to give you another
check-up."
The pregnant woman's face lit up at the sight of
her favorite "Verbal sparring partner." Possitively
gleeful to see his usually cantankerous face, she
threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
He groaned, laughing.
"Right.... here we go with the moodswings...."
She rolled her eyes and lightly smacked his shoulder.
"Stop picking on me for five seconds. Can't I just
be glad to see you?"
He scoffed. "Oh, hell no. I don't roll that way. I
avoid having anyone be glad to see me, ever. Makes
life a lot easier."
As they walked back to the desk area, Daisy touched
her hand to her lower back and groaned, smiling.
"Right, yeah...sorry, I forgot."
"So...." Cade teased. "The 'nervous nelly' Dad's to be
actually off doing their jobs for a change? They're not
going to drop everything and come running to see
every little prenatal scan and ooh and ahhh over every
visable movement their rugrats make?"
Daisy cracked up laughing. "You're such a jerk..."
Foster smirked, holding a tricorder.
"And yet, you've missed me terribly. Admit it."
She inhaled sharply as a baby's foot went thud against
her kidney. Then, she smiled and her face softened.
"Yeah, actually...I have."
He teased. "I could induce you right now, you know.
You're close enough to term. Then, a little tissue
regeneration - I'd be able to get you into bed by the
end of the week...."
Daisy laughed again. Then, she chided him.
"How about you stop cracking dirty jokes and we
have an actual conversation? How are you?
You ok?"
"No, no, no...." the older man chided her. "I've had
my fill of actual conversations today. Dirty jokes
and possibly a few non-invasive sexual favors are all
I have to offer a woman in your condition this fine
evening."
"Fine." Daisy laughed. "Give me the scan results
and get the hell out."
Cade raised an eyebrow and asked in a more serious
tone.
"Any cramping?"
Daisy blinked. "No, why?"
He replied. "You're one centimeter dialated..."
________________________________________________________
NRPG:
Peter, don't panic - it can take a month to go from 1-10 centimeters
in some women. Or, not. You decide. LOL
Margie - I hope you enjoyed this.
Ran, Jamie wasn't feeling well so I went ahead with this Novella
post. I don't think there is anything here that should spoil your
writing.
I changed the format slightly - for the new novella archive. I thought
it would be a fun challenge to try and write posts big enough to go
over there since I'm still inlead in posting volume in the PROPHECY
archive and I'd rather see more posts from you guys in there than more
posts from me. LOL . :P I hope everyone enjoys it.
Kim Toussaint - AKA Commander Daisy Byrne Davidson, M.D.
USS PROPHECY FRPG website archivist http://www.youth.net/frpg/
"If there's one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free. It expands to new territories. It crashes through barriers. Painfully, maybe even..
dangerously, but and...well, there it is." Dr. Ian Malcolm
---------------------------------
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