<USS Avalon> =/\= Change Of Fear =/\=

=/\= Change Of Fear =/\=
by Kaera Ashayu, Cam Loyen, and Sussanna Jameson




Kaera felt somewhat better, if still worried, after her nap. It felt good to 
be taken care of, to be wrapped in the intangible blanket of Cam's love and 
concern. But she still fretted about the situation in general and paternity 
issues in particular, and was glad to get dressed to go to Sickbay for an exam.

Cam had been happy to take care of Kaera for a few hours. He needed to do it, 
in fact, almost as much as she needed to be taken care of. He had left her 
alone to sleep, but went into her room when he heard her stirring a few hours 
later.  "You sleep well?" he asked as he entered her room. 

She finished pulling on her boots, and nodded. "Better than I have lately," 
she admitted. "But I'm ready to be seen by a doctor." It seemed a little funny, 
and she smiled. Most people on board avoided doctors.

"If the rumors I have heard down there are true, I think they are going to 
start an official investigation if they see one more pregnant female," he said 
with a smile, but quickly added. "I'm sure it will be fine, Love."

With a crooked smile, Kaera took his hand. A few minutes later, they were 
exiting the turbolift and walking into Sickbay.

Turning to look at the new arrivals, Anna smiled. "Can I help you?"

Kaera swallowed against the lump in her throat. She suspected it would be 
difficult to talk about for quite some time. "I need a... an exam," she said.

Cam let Kaera do most of the talking but gave the Doctor a smile.

"Of course, jump on a bed and let's see what we can see."

Sitting on the bed, Kaera said, "I'm expecting... about eight weeks, I think, 
maybe a little more."

Cam had helped her onto the table. He turned to look at her when she had 
given the time table, a little surprised it was that far along already. "Eight 
weeks?" he asked.

Kaera shrugged. It had been six weeks already since they had woken with that 
other reality seeming like a dream, and how long had they lived it?

"Wow, we're gonna be dropping babies all over the place." Typing in a few 
commands, Anna stood back as the scans started, "Is there anything on your 
mind?" 


Swallowing hard again, Kaera looked at her hands, folded in her lap. "Please 
scan for DNA matches," she said with difficulty.

Cam placed a hand on hers to comfort her.

"Okay," Anna frowned as she reprogrammed the computer. It chugged along, 
verifying matches. "Okay, one match, Camdell Loyen."

Kaera burst into tears of relief, slumping where she sat. "Thank you," she 
whispered silently to no one in particular.

"Other than that, everything looks good. You'll need to come back for regular 
checkups and the like." Anna smiled at them both. "Congratulations."

"Thank you..." Kaera looked up with a watery smile. "I suppose we'll get used 
to the idea, even if it was unplanned and unexpected." She glanced sideways 
at Cam.

Cam gave her a hand a squeeze. "And you were worried," he winked at her.

"I still am, though not for that reason any more," she told him. "Everything 
is all right?" she asked the doctor, just to hear it one more time. "The baby 
will be healthy?"

"Babies. You're gonna have twins." Anna beamed at them.

"What?" he asked. Cam heard the news and staggered slightly. "Twins?" He 
looked at Kaera. "But--?" he let the question trail off.

Kaera felt a little faint. "Twins?"  As if one wasn't enough??

"Yes, twins, fraternal to be exact."

Cam staggered again. "I don't believe it, " he said as he looked at Kaera. 
"You said... twins..." he started to chuckle slightly.

"Fra--" She knew the term, had learned it in her library studies at the 
Academy. But Cardassians didn't have fraternal twins. It was -- well, not 
completely impossible, but the occurrence was perhaps one in several billion. 
It just 
didn't happen. "I don't even remember ovulating," she breathed. But that must 
be part of it... it had been completely unconscious and somehow her body had 
matured and released two eggs at once. Maybe Cam was right, and the universe 
WAS 
trying to repopulate her people in that other reality.  "Are you sure?" she 
asked.

"Yes, the computer never lies." 

Cam hugged her tightly and then realized what he had done, "Oh," he said as 
he quickly loosened his grip on her. "Sorry, " he stammered. "I... " A grin was 
running away with his face. 

"Oh... I..." Kaera was stunned. Cam was happy -- he had a foolish grin and 
his delight was spilling out all over the place. "This will take some getting 
used to," she said quietly as she stood up.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked Kaera as he helped her off the table. 
"Was there anything else we needed to do today, Doctor?" he asked her.

"No, just take it easy and come back and see me." Anna grinned at them, 
inwardly sighing at the influx of babies.

Cam nodded, "We will, Doctor, thank you," he said and looked over to Kaera.

"Thank you," Kaera repeated, clinging to Cam's hand. They had a lot of 
talking and planning to do. But, thankfully, they would do it together.



=/\=

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