tp19


	Author's Notes: Okay, here's what I know a lot of you have been waiting for. The explanation about the Darrbakhian male pregnancy technique. Thanks to my twin for her help during the flashback scene. ************************************************** Part 19 A week later, Tom had arranged for Tarra to stay over at the Wildmans' again, and planned a quiet dinner for him and Chakotay. This time it wasn't an all-out plan to seduce his husband, but rather an effort to relax and mellow the man. Tom was going to tell him that they were having a baby. Tom had been in sickbay the day before to get a pregnancy test, hoping that the night a week earlier had had the desired result. It had, and Tom had asked Samantha to baby-sit Tarra, expecting Chakotay to have a few questions. They hadn't talked to the doctor about Tom getting pregnant, and Chakotay was bound to have some questions about how the pregnancy was possible. Tom planned to explain everything to him. *** At 1900 hours, Chakotay entered their quarters, having just finished a meeting with the Captain moments before. As the door closed behind him, the Commander looked around the cabin, noticing the lovely setting of the table, complete with a centerpiece of flowers. Seeing the few candles on the table, Chakotay knew that his husband hadn't planned to seduce him, but rather tried to create a relaxing atmosphere. The effort was successful. Chakotay felt himself start to unwind just at the sight. Smiling at Tom, who was sitting on the couch, the older man said, "Let me change out of my uniform and take a quick shower, then we can have dinner." When Tom nodded and smiled at him, Chakotay went into their bedroom to get out of his uniform. When he'd finished his shower and dried off, Chakotay quickly found some comfortable clothes and walked back into the living area. Seeing that Tom had put dinner on the table while he was gone, the older man went over and sat down. Remembering a certain white-haired little girl, he asked," Where's Tarra?" Tom sat down at the table across from Chakotay before he answered. "I asked Samantha to baby-sit her tonight. She'll sleep over again," he told his husband. Chakotay nodded. He knew that Tarra loved to spend time with her sister. Then he thought of something. "Is there any particular reason for this arrangement?" he asked, suddenly worried. He knew that Tom had been in sickbay the day before. Tom had said that everything was fine, but what if he just hadn't wanted to say anything until they were alone? Tom instantly picked up on his husband's worry and hastened to reassure him. "Yes, there's a reason for this arrangement, and it does have something to do with my visit to sickbay yesterday. But it's nothing bad." He kept eye contact with Chakotay while he spoke, letting his husband see the truth of his statement in his eyes. When the anxious look didn't immediately disappear from the older man's eyes, Tom sent a strong wave of reassurance through their bond. That helped. Chakotay breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed, then turned his attention to his dinner, and Tom did the same. The two men ate their meals in silence, both occupied with their own thoughts. Chakotay wondered what Tom was going to tell him, and Tom wondered how Chakotay would react to the little surprise he had for him. When they finished their dinner, the two men quickly cleared the table, putting everything in the recycler. Then Tom told Chakotay to sit on the couch, before going to the replicator and ordering two cups of tea. Picking up the cups when they materialized, Tom carefully made his way to the couch and handed Chakotay one, before sitting down in a chair on the other side of the coffee table. He took a sip of his tea, then put the cup down and looked over at his husband. Seeing his husband's steady gaze on him, Tom sighed softly and opened his mouth. Then he closed it again, having absolutely no idea where to start. Chakotay, sensing Tom's slight bewilderment, took charge of the conversation they were about to have. "What did the doctor say?" he asked as he put his cup of tea on the table. Tom bit his lip while he studied Chakotay for awhile. He was trying to imagine how his husband would react to what he was going to say. He was also considering the best way to say it. Giving up on both accounts, Tom finally blurted out, "I'm pregnant." Chakotay blinked and stared at his spouse, speechless. {Did Tom just say that he's...?} After a moment, he found his voice again. "Run that by me, again," he requested. "I'm pregnant," Tom repeated. For a moment, Chakotay sat with stunned expression on his face, his eyes slightly glazed with shock. Then he focused on Tom. "You... I... How can...." Chakotay took a deep breath and asked, "How is that possible?" Tom sighed deeply and leaned slightly forward. "You know I was in sickbay everyday last week?" Tom waited for his husband's nod before he continued. "Well, that was because I told him about my plan to get pregnant. Without his help." ***** //Tom walked into sickbay and looked around. He was the only one present. {Good,} he thought. {I don't want an audience when I talk to Doc.} "Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Hologram." Voyager's EMH materialized with his standard greeting. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency." Tom smirked slightly. "There isn't one, Doc. I'd just like to talk to for a moment." The doctor ignored Tom's smirk. "Mr. Paris. What do you want to talk about?" "Well, Doc. I just thought I should tell you that I plan to have a baby," Tom started. Before he could say anything else, the doctor spoke. "And you need my help to get pregnant," he surmised in a somewhat excited voice. Tom's eyes widened slightly, and he winced almost unnoticeable. He almost hated to ruin the EMH's excitement. Almost. "Actually, Doc, I have that covered." The doctor lifted an eyebrow quizzically. "You have that covered?" He quickly ran a few subroutines. When that didn't give him the answer, the doctor asked, "How, exactly, do you plan on getting pregnant without my assistance?" Tom was quiet for a moment, pondering how to explain. True, he'd gotten the knowledge from Rhiannon, but she had shown him what to do. Putting it into words was a different matter. Finally, Tom sighed and focused on the EMH again. "You know that I'm part Darrbakhian, right?" When the doctor nodded, Tom continued. "There is a way for a Darrbakhian man to get pregnant without the help of medicine." Seeing the curious expression on the doctor's face, Tom held up a hand to prevent the hologram from asking questions. "My sister showed me how it is done, and I'll do my best to explain it to you. I don't know how detailed it will be, though." Tom paused to gather his thoughts, then continued. "Basically, I can make the necessary changes in my body at will." He glanced quickly at the EMH. "Don't ask me to explain how I'll do that, because I can't. Anyway, once the process has been started, I will develop a womb and ovaries. Then, I'll produce eggs, and that's about it," he finished. The doctor considered this information, and came up with a few questions. "How long does this procedure take? Are you sure it's safe? Is the change permanent? Will you be able to change back? Will you start producing female hormones? Will you be able to breastfeed? How did the Darrbakhians discover they could do this?" The doctor finally stopped his rapid-fire questions. Tom hid his slight amusement, and answered the questions in order, trying to be patient. "It takes a week. Yes, I'm sure it's safe. No, the change isn't permanent. Yes, if I wish to. Yes. Yes. I have no idea." The doctor once again ran a few subroutines. He had several more questions, but his experience with Tom Paris told him that the man probably wouldn't answer them. At least, not right now. So, instead of asking, he said, "I want to make sure that this procedure is safe, so I want to see you every day while you go through this change." The doctor paused for a short moment when he noticed Tom's fierce scowl. Ignoring it, he asked one last question. "When did you plan to initiate the change?" Tom scowled for a moment longer, then sighed and answered the doctor's question. "I started it this morning."// ***** Tom stopped his narrative when he felt Chakotay's poorly hidden amusement. "What?" he asked. Chakotay chuckled softly. "I was just imagining you trying to answer the doctor's questions patiently." He got his merriment under control and turned serious. "So, we're having a baby." His voice clearly communicated his amazement. Tom smiled softly. "Yeah. We are." Suddenly he frowned and bit his lip uncertainly. "You haven't changed your mind about us having one, have you?" he asked quietly. "No, Baby, I haven't," Chakotay answered softly. Sensing that Tom wasn't entirely convinced, he rose from the couch and walked over to his husband. Reaching down, he pulled Tom up from the chair and into his arms, holding the younger man tightly. Then he leaned forward for a kiss. At first, the kiss was gentle, conveying their love for each other. Then Tom parted his lips, allowing Chakotay's tongue entrance to the hot cavern of his mouth, and the kiss quickly turned carnal. The two men stood there for long moments, arms around each other and their lips locked together. They only pulled back when they remembered that they needed to breathe. When their mouths separated, their eyes met and held. A while later, Tom and Chakotay pulled apart and, after silent agreement, went into the bedroom, silently closing the door behind them. Next