AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“When she’s ready for a break from eating, check out the available baby equipment on the feed in the library,” Dr. Pan said. “When you’ve chosen what you want, the crew will come whenever it’s convenient for you to get everything set up.”
“Library?” Chloe asked, through a mouthful of fruit.
“That’s part of the wing Oberon opened up for you after your hike,” Dr. Pan said. “I guess you didn’t have a lot of time for exploring.”
Chloe felt her whole body blush.
“We sure didn’t,” Jubal said proudly. “But we’ll have a look today.”
“Enjoy,” Dr. Pan said, winking at Chloe as she left.
“We have a library here,” Chloe said happily to Jubal.
He smiled at her like she hung the stars.
* * *
A few days later, they were curled up on one of the library sofas reading a book on parenting.
Jubal leaned back on one arm, and Chloe lounged between his legs, leaning her back against his warm abs.
The pregnancy was proceeding very swiftly, but Dr. Pan assured them this was simply a sign of a strong mate bond. Other than a few aches and pains, Chloe was feeling great. And Jubal applied himself to massaging her lower back and feeding her constantly with the zeal of an obsessive fan.
His wonder over every stage of her pregnancy was beautiful to behold. The morning a line appeared between her navel and groin he traced it reverently with his finger, murmuring to her that she was beautiful. The first time he felt the little one move in her womb he whipped out his guitar and composed a song, singing it softly against her belly. And when stretch marks painted stripes along her hips and belly, he kissed them passionately until she couldn’t contain her laughter.
The days were short, but happy. Chloe was eating and sleeping so much there was barely time for anything else. Though she had managed to knit a few things in pale gray cotton.
They were keeping the baby’s gender a surprise. Since the pregnancy would be so swift, it was nice to have at least a bit of mystery.
Chloe had just touched the holo-screen so that they could read about how to bathe a newborn when she felt it.
Her abdomen tightened as if she were being squeezed by a giant belt.
“Oh,” she breathed.
“I felt that,” he told her. “Is it time?”
“It can’t be,” she told him. “Not yet. It’s only been a few days.”
“Let’s call the Doc anyway,” he decided. “Oberon, can you ask Dr. Pan to come?”
By the time the Terran doctor arrived, it was clear that the baby was on its way. Chloe’s contractions were close together, and the pain was beginning to make it hard to breathe through them.
“Chloe,” Dr. Pan said with a calming smile as she dashed into the library. “Look at the two of you. You’ve taken the perfect position for this birth.”
Jubal pressed a kiss to the top of Chloe’s head, still holding her from behind.
A few more doctors flowed into the room after Dr. Pan, setting up a birthing station.
“I can’t give you anything for pain,” Dr. Pan told her, with serious eyes. “But that’s only because it won’t have time to kick in. The best part of Maltaffian pregnancies is the speed of Maltaffian labors.”
Chloe set her jaw in determination and listened carefully to all of Dr. Pan’s instructions.
When the next contraction came, the doctor told her to push.
The pain was exquisite, but she pictured their baby and worked through it, determined to meet the little one she had longed for.
On her next contraction, her pushing gave way to a shimmering wave of pressure and pain, and then relief as the doctors all exclaimed, Jubal pressed a kiss to her temple, and a tiny new voice squealed.
