Heart Shapes III By Lesa L. Harry Kim impatiently tapped his combadge. "Kim to Seven." <> "I'm ready. Where are you?" <> "I know," he cut her off, "that involved my present and you don't want to tell me just yet. But this is still our 3rd Valentine's Day together and our 3rd Valentine's Day party and I don't want to go into the holodeck without you. You can consider it tradition or superstition, I don't care." He heard the smile in her voice when she responded. <> Harry looked around their quarters before leaving. Had he forgotten anything? Tomorrow's duty roster, check, already sent to Ashmore. Seven's gift, check. The music data chips for the party, check. Finally reaching the turbolift to wait he leaned back against the bulkhead and closed his eyes, it had been a long day. The party, their third together, imagine that. The first Valentine's party Neelix had practically thrown them together but it had turned out all right. Better than all right, perfect. They had become to use her words 'romantically affiliated' at the party and then later that night, lovers. They had been together ever since. Last year Seven had surprised him and the crew by announcing at the party that they were going to be parents. It wasn't a surprise to him, not really, they had been trying to have a baby but they hadn't expected it to happen almost right away. This year they should have been attending the party with their three-month old baby, but it hadn't turned out that way. Five weeks after the party Seven had miscarried. At the time they hadn't been overly concerned. The Doctor had assured them that even in these advanced times one in six-first pregnancies still miscarried in the first trimester. A month later Seven was pregnant again and then four weeks later suffered through another miscarriage. The EMH had feverishly worked to locate the problem. Harry rubbed his eyes, remembering those dark days spent waiting to find out what was wrong and whether it could be fixed. And it had been, thanks to the Doctor's efforts, in two weeks their baby would be delivered. Their baby, finally. The sound of the turbolift doors swishing open brought him back to the present. Looking up he smiled at the sight of the mother of his child standing before him. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he entered the lift and pressed the button. She moved forward to greet him with a quick kiss. "I am well," she answered, resting her arm around his waist. "And you?" "I'm just fine," he responded. The doors opened, they exited and he placed his arm over her shoulders they walked toward the holodeck doors. She rested her head on his shoulder, he grinned. This was one of the perks of the pregnancy, she had become much more openly affectionate. The doors swished open before them. "Wow," Harry breathed. "Wow indeed," Seven agreed with a smile of nostalgia. Tom had taken over the setting and decoration of the last two Valentine's Day parties. Last year's had been set in a cozy snowbound chalet with blazing logs in the several fireplaces. This year's party couldn't have been more different. They appeared to have walked through the doors into the courtyard of an ancient Mexican hacienda. The building was made of stone, ornately carved. Wrought iron tables and chairs were scattered about almost haphazardly. Roses and other trailing flowers grew rampantly over the walls. Their sweet scent mingled with that of the lush jungle that could be glimpsed beyond the rooftops becoming a rich, sensuous perfume. "So what do'ya think?" They both turned and watched Voyager's helmsman stroll smugly toward them. "It's perfect and you know it," Harry replied. "It is extraordinary work Tom," Seven agreed. "Thank you very much. I was just in the control room working on a couple of last minute things. Did you bring the music?" "Isn't it wonderful!" a voice exclaimed behind them. All three friends smiled at the sight of Neelix hurrying toward them from the buffet tables. Sandrine, the slender, blond holographic owner of the pub of the same name accompanied him. After greeting the new arrivals she turned to the man that had programmed her. In her rich French accent she told him. "The bar area is suitable Thomas. I did request additional nonalcoholic beverages, however. You forget that here will be many more people than usual not drinking tonight. And some people do not care for the taste of synthahol Cherie." The expression on her face said that she understand that aversion completely. Harry smiled, Sandrine was right. Besides the crewmembers that normally did not imbibe alcohol there were several 'expecting' couples aboard Voyager now that would also not be drinking. Besides he and Seven, there were three other pregnant duos on the ship. Tom and B'Elanna's child was due in four more months. Sue Nicoletti and Donna Henley had announced Sue's pregnancy three weeks ago. Tal Celes was sneezing her way through the last two months of her pregnancy, even though it was close as to who had been the most ill, the mother or the father, since Billy Taufler was experiencing the symptoms of a sympathetic pregnancy. As a show of support the non-expectant parent usually tried to abstain from anything the other parent couldn't indulge in. Three other couples in the same boat. Well, not exactly the same boat, he thought ruefully. The other couples were all married. He tried to push that thought out of his mind and focus on other things but it refused to budge. Marriage hadn't been such an issue during their first year together. He loved Seven, she loved him, life was grand. They talked about a family and both knew they wanted a child. They had also talked about marriage, well, he had talked she had listened. He'd told her how wonderful his parents marriage was, how inspirational it had been to see two people so in love and so committed to each other and their family. Seven questioned the relevance of marriage. They were together, they loved each other and they were having a child together. They were a unit as far as she was concerned, a collective of two, soon to be three. He hadn't pressed her, hoping that as the relationship progressed she would change her mind on her own. As an expecting couple they'd attended the three other marriages, even standing up as witnesses for Tom and B'Elanna's. He'd hoped that actually being at the weddings themselves might give her the nudge she needed. It had helped, a little. Seven had enjoyed the weddings and the parties and had gone to far as to suggest that after the child was born, perhaps she would discuss a wedding of their own. Now, they needed to focus on the birth first. It was better than nothing, Harry thought. He looked up to see Neelix leaving the holodeck to check on the food that Ensign Ayala was preparing in the Messhall. Seven accompanied Sandrine to the bar to get a beverage and he left with Tom to pop in the music chip. A few minutes later Harry walked back into the courtyard. Seven sat at the bar, her back to him. She was periodically sipping from a tall glass as she carried on a conversation with Sandrine. He took a moment to take in her appearance. Tom had sent design specifications for clothing to the crew's personal databases. Loose, light clothing was the order of the day. Seven had chosen a white, cotton dress for the party, the only decoration, white embroidery, in a floral pattern on the bodice and around the hem of the dress. Her shining blond hair was pulled into a loose bun at the back of her head. She'd chosen a white shirt for him decorated with the same floral design down the front and on the cuffs. Simple tan pants completed his ensemble. He watched her face as she nodded and contributed a comment. Faint smudges under her eyes reminded him that she hadn't been sleeping very well. Neither had he for that matter and with the baby coming in two weeks that wasn't going to change anytime soon. It didn't matter, she was radiantly beautiful to him. Seven smiled at Sandrine. The holocharacter had become almost a permanent member of the crew. She and the Doctor had begun a relationship three months earlier that, surprisingly, appeared to be stable. Under her influence the EMH's personality had mellowed. His snide sarcasm was being replaced by wry humor. And he'd endured a lot of teasing from the crew as to why his 'bedside manner' had improved so much. He'd also acquired a name, Robert. He'd taken the last name of Zimmerman in honor of his creator. He approached them overhearing Sandrine explain, "I told Robere that I would not come to the Valenteen Party unless the holoimager was left behind. I wanted to be the only thing he 'focused' on tonight and all that he would have his hands on would be me!" "And for that we all grateful," Harry said by way of announcing his presence. Placing his hand around Seven's waist he continued, "I appreciated all the time he took to take them but it was hard to have a good time when you never knew when you were going to have your image recorded for posterity." Sandrine smiled fondly. "Oui, he does not need to hide behind the camera anymore." Suddenly the entire holodeck lurched wildly. He clutched Seven as her stool tilted backwards. "Harry!" she shrieked as they were both thrown to the floor. He saw stars as his head impacted then he felt a wave of pain and everything went black. Harry struggled to open his eyes. Turning his head slightly he saw Seven lying next to him, her clear blue eyes focused on him, full of concern. "Seven! The baby?" "Is fine," she assured him. "Hey Buddy," Tom greeted him as he moved a tricorder over his body. "My Godchild is fine. Seven's fine. Everything's just fine. Don't try to sit up. You've been out for almost five minutes. You both took nasty bumps to the head. Move slowly or you'll get dizzy." Harry nodding at his friend then turned to look at Seven again. He reached out to brush back a hair from her face and asked again. "Are you sure you're okay?" "I am sure," Seven said, reaching out to take his hand in hers. Sandrine, who was standing next to her, assured him. "Seven did not lose consciousness as you did Har-ri." "What happened?" "Voyager passed too close to a nebula that was sending out some stray energy spikes," Tom explained. "One sent a surge of power through the ship and it shook up systems pretty bad. B'Elanna's got everything back online but we have to come back to full power slowly or risk blowing out some major problems. Brown out conditions until then, all unnecessary systems are off. Which means no turbolifts or transporters. That's why you two are still here. Good thing the holodeck has it's own power source. I programmed in a double size biobed for you two. Cozy isn't it? Now both of you just rest," he said looking down at his two patients. Harry eyes narrowed, his friend's statement had been a little too casual. "What's aren't you telling me?" "Don't worry," Tom said sincerely. <> Tapping his combadge the Assistant Medical officer replied. "Paris here." <> "Tom! Something, ah, ah wrong, I feel, ah, ah, ahhh!" Tom checked his tricorder, "Crap!" Slapping his combadge he spoke tersely, "Doc. I know I said the head wounds were taken care of but I think the fall started labor." <> The EMH replied wryly. <> The Doctor materialized momentarily in the center of the courtyard. Tom quickly moved to his side and handed him the medical tricorder he had been using. "I'm glad you're here Doc. I really didn't want to have to do this on my own," Tom said with obvious relief. "Nonsense," the EMH replied. "We've practiced the procedure six times here in the holodeck." Moving the tricorder over both the recumbent patients he added with a smirk. "I have faith in you Mr. Paris or at least in my training of you. Your observations were correct. Neither of them has suffered any trauma due to the fall but it has triggered the onset of labor." "It is too early," Seven said, concern etched on her features. Harry tightened his grip on her hand. "We were supposed to have two more weeks to go." "Your baby is fine," the Doctor assured them both. "He or she just seems to be impatient to meet you two." Handing the tricorder back to Tom he gently but firmly felt for the position of the baby's head and body. Smiling down at his patient he asked, "Well, it looks like this baby is ready to be born. The question is, are you ready?" "I am so ready!" Harry declared, resting his other hand on his swollen abdomen. He looked at Seven, "How about you?" Her smile was luminous, as she placed her hand softly on his stomach, "I am eager to hold our child."