Quality Time Part 5 (The End)
by Sabine
The Center Chamber:
“ What do you mean with it’s time?”
“ The baby...”
“ Now?”
“ Now is about as good a time as ever, John,” Aeryn spoke through clenched teeth as a contraction started. She felt the pain pulse through her entire body. * The center chamber is hardly the place you want to get born in, little one *
John was quick to reach her, as were Zhaan, Stark and D’Argo. Aeryn was glad that John was supporting her weight now, so that she could fully concentrate on the contractions. John and the others hurried to get her to the medical facility as quickly as possible. The last thing she saw when they exited the center chamber was her son being held by Chiana and Jothee to prevent him from following them. He had a hurt look on his face, mixed with confusion. She wished there had been time for her to say something to Ben, to try and reassure him that everything would be all right. Aeryn however had no doubt that Chiana would do that instead of her. The Nebari had been crazy about Ben from the moment she and the others had first seen him after his birth over 5 cycles ago.
“ Auntie Chiana, what’s wrong with mommy?”
“ Well honey…it seems that your sister has picked this time to come into this universe.”
“ Oh…I can’t go to them now, can I?”
“ No Ben. Not yet. This is something your daddy and mommy have to do. You won’t be able to help them, but you know what?”
Ben shook his head. “ What?”
“ We’ll go and see them as soon as your little sister has been born,” Chiana said as she gave Ben a hug. She hoped that she had been able to calm him down somewhat. It all had happened so fast that John and Aeryn hadn’t even been able to talk to him. From the moment Chiana had met John, she knew he was special. She had been interested in him, but soon realized that Aeryn was the only woman he loved and that she couldn’t come between the two of them. It had been interesting to see John and Aeryn’s relationship develop. They had overcome many difficulties to get where they were right now and she was very glad to be able to call them her friends. The relationship she now had with the Human could best be described as a big brother and little sister one. Chiana had developed a similar relationship with the ex-Peacekeeper and she considered Ben to be her nephew and family, even though they weren’t related by blood at all.
“ Promise?”
“ Yeah, I promise,” Chiana replied as she looked at the entrance of the center chamber, where she had last seen the others. “ I will take ya there myself, Benny-boy. Until that time Jothee and I will keep you company. If that’s okay by you?”
“ Sure. That’s definitely okay by me,” Ben giggled as Jothee picked him up and gave him a piggy back ride to John and Aeryn’s quarters.
****
“ You’re doing great, honey…” John spoke. He was holding Aeryn’s hand tightly, while she was fighting off the pain of another contraction. “ Just breathe…It will be okay.”
As John saw Aeryn’s face relax he realised that this particular contraction had ended. The gentleness he now found in her face had been very different from the expression she had when they had first met in that cell on Moya eight years ago. She had kicked the dren out of him. Aeryn had been a regular Miss ‘shoot first, ask later’ back then. It was amazing to see how far she had come, what kind of a person she had become over the duration of those eight years.
John stroked a strand of hair off her sweaty brow and gave her a kiss on her forehead. He smiled as he noticed that she was looking him in the eyes. John knew that she was doing that in order to keep herself focussed. If he could compare this to anything, it would be a marathon. It could take a while before they would reach the finish line, but in the end everything would be worth it.
He saw Aeryn’s expression change again and knew another contraction was on its way.
“ Aeryn…just concentrate on me, okay? If you need something to focus on…focus on my eyes or something else that will be able to help, honey.”
Aeryn tried to smile and nodded briefly before the next contraction hit her with all its might. She was grateful that John was there. He had a calming effect on her and that was exactly what she needed right now. A quarter of an arn ago Zhaan had ordered D’Argo to leave the infirmary, because he was getting on her nerves and getting in her and Stark’s way. The Luxan hadn’t want to leave until John finally had promised that he would be able to see the baby as soon as she was born.
Aeryn squeezed John’s hand as the pain pulse left her body again. She was afraid that she might have hurt him, but if she had he didn’t show any signs of it. He merely grinned as she searched his eyes once more. The time between the contractions grew smaller and she quickly prepared for the next contraction.
****
It had taken about four and a half hours until the baby had finally been born. Only when Aeryn had gotten too tired Zhaan had tried to take away as much of her pain as she could. After Aeryn had given birth to her daughter, John had cut the cord, Zhaan had quickly suctioned Meara’s nose and mouth and took her away for a moment, so she could clean her up before handing the baby to Aeryn. Zhaan also conducted some tests to see if everything was all right with Meara. When the results turned out to be satisfactory, Zhaan headed back to Aeryn, who was anxiously waiting to hold her daughter in her arms for the first time.
As John and Stark saw Zhaan returning to them, they helped Aeryn to sit up straight. Zhaan carried the baby in her arms and had a big smile on her face. The Delvian carefully placed the little bundle in Aeryn’s arms.
“She’s beautiful, Aeryn,” John murmured as he looked down at his daughter. Meara had jet-black hair and stared up at her parents with a pair of big blue eyes. He knew the colour of her eyes and hair could still change in the coming months, but the truth was that he didn’t want it to. John was perfectly content with the way his little girl looked right now. In about sixteen years the boys in the Uncharted Territories would be lining up at their doorstep. He would do his best to ensure that his daughter wouldn’t get hurt or end up with the wrong guy. “ She’s beautiful, honey. Just like you,” John spoke lovingly, kissing his exhausted wife.
He sat down on the bed and was practically grinning from ear to ear. Sitting there with his wife and baby daughter, John realized this moment was perfect and one he would never be able to forget. He only wished that his dad, his sisters and DK could have been around to witness the birth of his daughter. At important times like these, he couldn’t help but miss them or Earth. John had stopped thinking of Earth as his home long ago. If he were to return to there he probably wouldn’t even fit in anymore. These eight years on Moya had changed him more than thirty something years back on Earth. Despite all the things that had happened to him during those eight years, he considered them to be the best years of his life. If he hadn’t been shot through that wormhole, he would never have met Aeryn. She was his reason for living, to keep on going even when all the odds were against him. John was also afraid what would happen to his wife and children if and when his fellow human beings found out the truth about them. He didn’t want a scenario like the false Earth happening all over again. John had virtually stopped searching for his planet from the moment he and Aeryn had discovered that she was pregnant with their son. A long time ago John had promised Aeryn that he would never leave her and he had meant it. He would stay at her side until the day he died.
“John…”
“ Yeah honey?”
“ Ben and Meara will get to meet all of their grandparents one day,” Aeryn whispered in his ear, reading his mind. She only needed to look at him to find out what was going on in her husbands mind. As a Peacekeeper she could never have fathomed what it would be like to share this kind of bond with a person. She never would have understood what it would be like to have this kind of relationship or why one would want such a thing for that matter. John completed her and she knew that she completed him as well.
“ My dad would probably spoil ‘em to death,” John chuckled. “ Don’t even get my started about my sisters. I don’t even want to think about how they’ll react to the fact that their older brother has finally settled down, got married and has two kids running around the place.”
Aeryn smiled as John moved to sit behind her, so that she could lean against him. The last couple of hours had been exhausting. If she hadn’t been brought up a Peacekeeper, Aeryn believed that she probably wouldn’t have handled the pain like she had done.
A pair of dark blue eyes belonging to her daughter curiously looked up at her. John was right…their daughter was beautiful. Aeryn watched as Meara yawned and closed her eyes. * I guess I am not the only one who’s tired. We both should get some rest, little one. * She thought amused.
“ John. Aeryn. Chiana just commed me to ask if it’s all right to bring Ben to the medical facility. Do you wish to wait a little longer before Ben comes to visit you?”
“ No. It’s time for our son to meet his baby sister. Tell Pip to go ahead. Ben is probably not the only one who wants to see Meara,” John answered with a grin as he looked at Aeryn. For the first time his wife was showing signs of being tired. “ We’d better get you cleaned up a bit, sunshine. A shower, clean clothes and a fresh bed will make you feel a lot better.”
Aeryn nodded and reluctantly let Stark take Meara with him, so that she could take a shower. John helped her to get out of the bed. She didn’t even object when John carried her to the shower in his arms.
****
John and Aeryn’s Quarters:
“ Gotcha!!” Jothee shouted as he grabbed hold of Benjamin and started to tickle him. Giggling,
John and Aeryn’s son struggled to break free from the Luxan/Sebacean hybrid’s hold on him.
“I give up. I give up!” Ben laughed, raising his hands in the air. It was always great to play with Jothee and Chiana. At this moment it kept him distracted. Ben was really worried about his mother, since Chiana had told him that his mother was in labor and his sister was going to be born. The Nebari had also explained to him that giving birth could be a very painful experience for a woman. Ben had asked if his mother also had a lot of pain when she had given birth to him. Chiana had simply smiled and assured him that it was nothing for him to worry about, it was just the way things happened in life. If he ever was to marry and his wife got pregnant she would go through the same thing. When Ben had asked her if she wanted to have a baby, the smile on her face grew bigger but she didn’t answer his question. Instead she looked at Jothee, got up from the couch and excused herself, saying that she needed to do something important. Chiana had been gone for a while now and Ben was eagerly awaiting her return. She had promised to prepare his favourite dish and he was feeling somewhat hungry. If this had been a normal day Ben would have already been sleeping in his bed, for it was long past his bedtime. Jothee and Chiana had tried to get him to go to bed, but he had refused. Ben had stated that he would only go to bed when his sister had been born and after he had gone to her and his mother, to see if they were all right.
Jothee stopped tickling him and let go. Ben grinned and sprinted towards his room. “ Catch me if you can, Jothee!”
Jothee shook his head, laughing. It just seemed like the boy couldn’t get tired and had an endless access to a pool of energy. He had been playing non-stop with Ben since Chiana left to do something important. Jothee suspected that the important thing Chiana spoke of, was contacting Zhaan to ask if the baby had been born yet.
Out of the corner of his eye he suddenly noticed Chiana standing at the entrance of John and Aeryn’s quarters. He couldn’t help but notice the big grin and realized it could only mean one thing…the baby had been born.
“ Hey Benny-boy! Get your eema over here.”
Ben appeared at the entrance of his room and curiously looked at Jothee. “What is it?”
“ I’ve got some great news for you, little one…” Jothee smiled. Ben immediately started to grin as he concluded what that great news could be. It had to be about his mother and his baby sister. He was finally going to see his little sister and find out what she looked like.
“ She has been born, hasn’t she? Can I finally go to see mommy and daddy? Can I?”
“ Yes, you can. Your mother, father and sister are waiting for you at the medical facility,” Chiana happily informed Benjamin. She would never openly admit it, but she had been looking forward to Meara’s birth. Perhaps even more than the rest of the crew. “ Come one, Ben. You don’t want to keep them waiting, do you?” Chiana grinned. Ben shook his head, made his way over to the Nebari and grabbed her hand.
“ Chiana, you never did answer Ben’s question…” Jothee spoke as he walked next to her.
“ What question would that be, Joth?”
“ If you wanted to have a baby of your own?” Jothee repeated softly.
“ Hmmm. Perhaps…but only if the guy I’m interested in wants to as well. I got my eyes on someone, but I don’t think he has realized it yet…” Chiana answered mysteriously.
“Oh…and who might this guy exactly be?”
“ Wouldn’t you like to know…” she teased as she turned the corner with Ben and left behind a very confused Jothee.
****
The medical facility:
The walk over to the infirmary would be one Ben would forever remember as one of the longest moments in his life. Time passed by very slowly and every thing seemed to happen in slow-motion. He didn’t really pay attention to what Chiana was saying to him. The only things on his mind were his little sister, his mother and how she was doing. He wondered what she would look like, since he had never seen another baby up close. For over five years he had been alone, the only child aboard Moya, but that had now all changed with the birth of his baby sister. Ben would no longer be able to hide behind being the only child. This meant that from the moment his sister had been born he had gotten responsibilities. One of those responsibilities was to protect his sister, like big brothers were supposed to. He was going to make sure that she was never going to be harmed by anything or anyone.
Zhaan was standing outside the medical facility along with Stark. The two of them were embracing one another and hadn’t noticed that Chiana and he were practically standing next to them. They were probably doing one of those spiritual things he didn’t understand a thing off. The two of them had a habit of doing that. Especially meditating, which seemed to be one of their favourite events. The bond Stark and Zhaan was something he couldn’t quite yet understand and he suspected that it would take some time for him to do so.
“ Zhaan. I’m sorry to disturb you guys in the middle of…um…whatever you are doing right now, but is it okay for Ben to go inside?” Chiana asked as Ben and she looked at each other.
“ It is quite all right, my dear,” Zhaan spoke as she broke away from Stark’s embrace.
“ Congratulations with the birth of your sister, Benjamin.”
“ Thank you, auntie Zhaan,” Ben smiled. “ Um…is it okay for me to go see mommy and daddy?”
Zhaan nodded. “Of course, little one. Your parents are waiting inside for you, but you’ve got to remember that your mother is very tired and be very careful with her and the baby.”
“ I’ll keep that in mind, auntie Zhaan. Besides being tired mommy is okay, isn’t she?”
“ Yes, she is okay and so is your sister. You’d better quickly go to them, my dear,” Zhaan encouraged as she noticed that Ben was somewhat nervous. The boy had no idea what to expect in there and what had exactly happened during the last couple of arns. They had been in such a hurry to get Aeryn to the infirmary that Chiana and Jothee had probably ended up telling him somewhat of what happens in labor. Zhaan suspected that the two of them had simplified things in order for Ben not to start worrying.
Stark, Chiana and Zhaan watched as Ben disappeared from their sight and stepped into the medical facility. They would all still get their chance to see the baby again. This moment was one that belonged to the Crichton family. A moment to spend some quality time together and celebrate such a joyous event in their lives.
****
Ben immediately saw his parents as he entered the infirmary. His mother was sitting up straight in one of the beds, holding something covered with a blanket in her arms. His father was sitting on the edge of the bed and both his father and mother seemed to be saying something to what he assumed was his sister somewhere inside the blanket. He wondered if they had done the same with him when he had been a baby. According to what D’Argo had once told him, all parents talked to their babies. One more ridiculous that the other, but in the end that all depended on the parent in question.
“ I hope I’m not disturbing you…” Ben spoke with a grin as he stood there with folded arms, observing his parents from a distance. John and Aeryn both smiled as they noticed their son looking at them.
“ Hello honey,” Aeryn spoke, looking from the daughter she was holding in her arms to her son.
“Hey sport! I’d like you to meet someone really special and introduce her to you, since the two of you will be spending a lot of time together…” John said, gesturing for Ben to join Aeryn and him.
Zhaan had been right…his mother looked really tired. Her hair was wet, but that was probably because she had taken a shower. Ben recognized the smell of her shampoo as he got closer to the bed. As he came to a standstill at the side of the bed where his father was sitting. His dad offered to pick him up onto the bed, but he refused. Instead he grabbed a chair and climbed on it, before climbing on the bed via the chair.
“ Ben, I’d like to you to meet Meara…your little sister,” Aeryn told her son as he curiously peeked into to opening of the blankets. Big blue eyes stared up at him and looked into his own.
“ She’s really little,” Ben replied surprised as a tiny hand grabbed one of his fingers.
“Well…yeah sport. All babies are small when they are born,” John laughed.
“ Was I ever that small?” Ben curiously asked, looking up at his father and mother.
“ Yes Ben. You were about as small as your sister when you were born,” Aeryn replied warmly as her eyes locked with John’s. He obviously had the same idea in mind as she had.“ Would you like to hold her, Ben?”
Ben nodded eagerly. “ Yes, mommy. I promise that I’ll be careful.”
John quickly informed Ben as to what was the correct way to hold a baby and after he had done so, he took Meara from Aeryn and placed the baby in their son’s arms. “ Hey Meara. My name’s Ben and I’m your older brother. I don’t know if ya can remember it, but I’m going to keep those promises I made to you…” Ben whispered to his sister. “ I’ll try my best at being the perfect older brother and protect you from harm.”
“ Ben, it’s time for you to get some sleep. In fact I’m sure that we all could use some sleep,” John spoke as he took Meara from Ben. “ Ben, you go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Ben gave his mother a goodnight kiss before jumping off the bed. “ Night mommy. Sleep tight…don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
“ Goodnight honey. Sleep well,” Aeryn smiled as Ben ran out of the infirmary. John placed Meara into a makeshift crib situated next to Aeryn’s bed.
“ I’d better be going and to tuck Ben in. I’ll be back in a couple of microts, sunshine. Behave until then okay?” John grinned, giving Aeryn a passionate kiss.
“ John…”
“ Yes Aeryn?”
“ I want to go back with you. I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“ Are you sure?”
“ Yes, I am very sure.”
“ And the pain?”
“ What pain, John?” Aeryn grinned as she pushed the blankets aside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. John shook his head and chuckled.
“ I know you well enough to know that I won’t be able to talk you out of it, so I guess that means you and our daughter will be sleeping in your own beds tonight.”
“ Thank you, John.”
“ You are welcome, honey. It’s not like I could have stopped you…” John laughed as he helped Aeryn to get off the bed.
****
Several arns later, John and Aeryn’s quarters:
Aeryn Crichton-Sun stared at the little figure of her daughter, who was fast asleep in her little crib. She still couldn’t believe that after nine monens of carrying her inside of her, Meara had finally been born.
When they had returned from the infirmary with their daughter, the others has assembled in their quarters to tuck Ben into bed and had been surprised to find out that Aeryn had decided not to stay at the infirmary over night. Their friends had quickly seized the opportunity to look at the baby. They didn’t stay for too long and promised to come back another time, because they knew that Aeryn was tired and needed her sleep.
After making sure that both their children were sound asleep, John and she had gone to bed themselves. It hadn’t taken long for them to fall asleep as they both had been drained from the experience of Meara’s birth. It had however been a restless sleep for her and after two arns she had woken up. Aeryn had tried her best to fall back asleep, but for some reason had been unable to. Since she couldn’t sleep anymore Aeryn had decided to see how her children were doing.
She had first stopped by Ben’s room and watched him in his sleep for at least a quarter of an arn before heading to Meara’s bedroom and that had been about an arn ago.
“ Hey…”
“ Hey…” Aeryn returned as she felt two arms embracing her waist. She leaned back against her husband. “ Shouldn’t you be asleep?” she teased, looking up at him.
“ Hmm…I could ask you the same thing, sunshine.”
“ I couldn’t sleep, John.”
“ So you decided to watch our children sleep?” John guessed as he kissed her on the cheek. She nodded and looked down at Meara.
“ As I look at them I wonder what I have done to deserve them, John…I…”
“ You deserve them because of who you are and who you have managed to become. You have come a long way, Aeryn. You managed to keep me alive all of those years and without you I would have surely died long ago. My life would be empty without you. I’m the happiest and luckiest man in the universe, because I am able to wake up every morning in our bed with you by my side. I’m damned proud to be able to call you my wife and mother of my children. I love you Aeryn Crichton-Sun.”
“ I love you too, John Crichton of the planet Earth. I’d be lost without you. You have helped me to become the person I am today. You taught me the meaning of hope and to have hope in even in the most desperate kind of situations. You have taught me what love exactly is and how important it can be.”
“I guess we are just a match made in heaven, honey,” John mused as he kissed Aeryn again. “ Well that and the fact that you are stuck with me forever.”
“Oh…that’s something I don’t mind at all, John,” Aeryn spoke returning John’s kisses. She continued kissing him as she grabbed both of John’s hands and led her husband back to their bedroom.
-The End-