<USS Avalon> Immortal Flow by Li Vilya & Ming Kabuki

"Love is the immortal flow of energy that nourishes, extends and preserves. 
Its eternal goal is life." 

-Smiley Blanton 

It was a simple joy, to walk hand in hand with Ming, and not have to talk to 
him through a force field, unable to touch him.  True, she'd only known him 
for a short time, and been married to him for an even shorter time, but his 
touch was something she couldn't live without.  The hand in hand gesture 
graduated 
to Ming's arm slipping around her shoulders and hers fitting around his.  
There were a few smiles as they passed crew mates along their way to the 
arboretum.  After all the stress and battle, the simple sight of a young and 
happy 
couple brought them a measure of what passed for normal

"Bear with me, Vilya.  Science is not this Kabuki's forte," Ming said after 
she'd finished explaining the virus, its M.O., and its effects.  "What you're 
saying is that it most likely didn't like you because you're Bajoran?"

"That's what it looks like," she told him.  

They entered the arboretum, still arm and arm.  Vilya sneezed again prompting 
a down the line of his nose stare from Ming.  He shook his head.  Who was he 
to argue her out of a cold?  She led him to one of the benches the staff had 
placed in the room.  It reminded her a little of the stone bench where they'd 
first met in Golden Gate park.  

"So, I didn't tell you the one thing that was giving the med techs and 
doctors a bit of reserve about releasing me completely," she began as she sat 
next 
to him.

"Reserve?  What do you mean--are you still supposed to be quarantined?" Ming 
asked, his blue eyes widening.  He didn't think he could stand that again.

"No, it's not that..." Vilya told him.  She reached a hand up to his face, 
her fair hand contrasting with his tanned complexion.  "What was it that the 
picture taking old woman told you again?  Tell me exactly."

Although he was confused by the abrupt change of subject, Ming recalled the 
words easily.  "Her  first born will have your eyes, her hair, and a strength 
of spirit from both his  parents," he replied promptly.  "The second time she 
said your son.  Why?"

Prophets, he's a sweet man but he's a bit dense.  She looked up into those 
bright blue eyes, trying to picture what a son of theirs would look like.  
Would 
he really have her auburn hair with his vividly shaded eyes?  She remembered 
laughing with him, saying that she hoped that future child would have her 
nose.  Her finger lightly brushed the length of his nose.

"Because I'm hoping he really will have my nose," she said softly as her soft 
brown eyes looked into his blue ones.

Those eyes couldn't hide much expression.  She'd seen that look in his eyes 
before.  It was one she'd seen come over him when he was discussing his deep 
abiding faith or explaining what he considered every day miracles.  The look 
slowly moved to his mouth and blossomed into a radiant smile before he spoke.

"Really?" he asked.  "No joke?"

"That isn't the sort of thing I'd kid you about," she replied simply.

That was what she intended to say but most of the reply was cut off by his 
sudden burst of exuberance.  Regardless of who might have been in the 
arboretum, 
he picked her up and, holding her in his arms, swung her around.  Settling 
her back down on her feet, he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Come on, sit back down with me," he said as he settled himself back on the 
bench and held out his arm.  As she sneezed yet again, he added, "God bless you 
and I mean that in every sense.  Now, tell me everything."

He was only a single Human, a young man, but Vilya could always feel safe in 
his embrace.  His presence, his personality, could dispel fear and doubt so 
easily.  Except this time, he couldn't fight science.  

"The virus feeds off of Human DNA.  The others were vaccinated but I couldn't 
let them do that.  It's too dangerous.  Because it's so early, there's hardly 
enough Human DNA for the damned virus to live off of but they're all going to 
watch very carefully.  We have to watch him very carefully...him.  Oh 
Prophets, Ming, we're going to have a baby..." she said softly.  "I don't know 
if I 
can take five months of worrying.  All the faith in the Universe can't deny 
scientific facts."

"Maybe not deny them but love, and faith, are much a part of the Universe as 
science is.  We have both of those in great quantities, my dear.  I have no 
doubt that things will go according to the plan that He has, that the Prophets 
have.  We can't do anything about it but trust in love and faith," Ming said 
softly.

She smiled up at him.  She hated feeling so emotional but she knew it was 
only going to get worse.  Or better, she told herself.  "There is one other 
thing 
we can do," she stated, a slight smile reappearing.

"What's that?"

"Names, Ming.  If that old woman was right, our son needs a name..."

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