<USS Avalon> Good Beginnings by Li Vilya, Patrick Kabuki, & Lilin

 
***approved by Liz 
Vilya looked down at her son--my son!--as he nursed.  She gently stroked the 
tiny head.  It was covered with downy hair a little  darker than hers.  She 
had to  smile--he's so beautiful --but the  smile was tinged with worry. 
"He's a beautiful boy," the nurse  said, echoing Vilya's thoughts with a 
sweet smile.  "Does he nurse strong?" 
"He does," Vilya replied, one  finger stroking the soft skin of his arm.  She 
glanced over at Ming, who was pacing by the door.  "I hope this isn't a bad 
beginning." 
"Oh, no, not at all," Lilin said  as she moved to sit next to her.  Patting 
her patient's hand comfortingly, she added, "He is strong and  healthy.  Did 
you not hear those  lungs?" 
Vilya let out a sigh.  "I know what Anna said but I'm not going  to be happy 
until I know for sure about that virus." 
Lilin knew that all new mothers  worried about their babies but she supposed 
this one had a few more reasons to  worry.  She also knew her to be a  
religious woman.  "Well, until she can do the scans, is your son not  
extraordinarily 
blessed to have a mother who knew the Emissary so well?  And to have his 
grandfather, the  Narvach, returned to him by the Emissary?" 
"Daddy told you the story?" Vilya  asked, momentarily distracted. 
"He did," Lilin replied as she  fussed with the pillows behind the young 
mother.  "I saw him on the vids when they first  released him from Hutet and he 
isn't the sort of man you forget seeing--not the  Hero of Bajor!  He's a very 
nice  man.  With the Emissary, the  Narvach, and your husband watching over 
this 
child, Vilya, he is blessed  already." 
"And think, Vilya," Ming said in  a soothing tone as he stopped his pacing to 
rejoin her and Lilin, "not only was  our son's first sight this very nice 
lady but look who else is aboard to love  him.  Not just us but there's  
Grandpa 
and Uncle Mac and Aunt Anna and Uncle Josh.  No, my love, all is well." 
The muted sounds of fighting,  which could be heard outside those comforting 
walls, made Vilya look at him  askance.  Nevertheless, she smiled  up at him 
and kissed his cheek.  She  was feeling better, more secure in any case, and 
snuggled into his embrace. 
"And we have faith," Ming  murmured.  "That we are being  watched over and 
that Joshua will be returned to us safe and sound.  Our Zachan will be held by 
his  godfather..." 
"She's asleep, Mr. Kabuki," Lilin  said softly. At the look in the new 
father's eyes, she added,"It's alright.  The endorphins that keep Bajoran women 
 
from feeling pain in childbirth also have the same side effects as an 
adrenaline  
crash in a Human.  We can leave the  baby with her like that.  They're  
comfortable and peaceful." 
Tears.  He couldn't believe it but Ming felt  tears in his eyes.  He blinked 
them  back, unsuccessfully, and offered Lilin a lopsided smile.  "Thank you 
for all of this, Lilin.  I'll thank Anna later but your being  Bajoran made my 
wife very happy.  It  made a hard situation easier and you did a good job.  
Truly--thank you." 
"Oh, you're very welcome but it  was a joy, not a chore.  I love  children.  
My mother is a midwife  and I learned at her side.  I'm a  nurse now but I'd 
like to specialize in pediatrics or maybe become a  pediatrician," the nurse 
replied, beaming at his kindness. 
"You'll do well either way," Ming  told her.  "This," and he gestured  at the 
room in general, "was not what I had planned.  Josh was kind enough to do up 
this whole  holodeck program that simulated a traditional birthing room.  
Instead, we had, by the grace of God,  you and Anna and my wife and my Zachan 
are 
safely delivered." 
Lilin looked at him  curiously.  "What is that you call  him?  What does it 
mean?" 
"Hmm?  Oh, it's a diminutive form of the Human  form of his name," he 
murmured, resting his cheek on top of Vilya's head as he  let one finger stroke 
his 
son's tiny ridged nose.  He saw the nurse flinch at a noise from  the outside.  
"Don't worry,  Lilin.  You took care of my  family--I'll take care of you.  
We'll be fine."  I  hope.

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