Each pregnancy was different-- and each birth. The only reason Emma Koenig was born in Medical Center was because Helena was standing in Medical Center at the time. The only reason John was present was because he had just walked in the door with Alex on his shoulders to pick up Helena for dinner.

She was checking David Kano's two-year-old son's tonsils. The little boy found it amusing to stick out his tongue and make funny sounds at the doctors. Ed Spencer stood next to her while she joked with the little boy. She straightened finally, using one hand to support her lower back. "You're right, Ed. They're huge. David, I think he'll sleep better if you'll let us take them out."

"We'll all sleep better," David replied. "He snores like a lumberjack. Then he'll stop breathing altogether for a while which just panics Tanya, and right now she really needs her rest." The Kanos were also expecting their second child.

"Pregnant women are cranky when they don't get their rest, aren't they, Kano?" Koenig added, with a wink at Spencer.

"That they are, Commander," Kano agreed emphatically, ignoring the fact that Helena was across from him and very pregnant.

"Thank you very much," Helena replied tartly to her husband. She was about to add something else when her face drained of all color and she grabbed Ed's arm for support. Her knees buckled and she gasped, "Oh, my God!"

Ed supported her and David scooped up his son from the examining chair.

"Labor pain?" John asked.

"More. I'm having this baby, now," Helena said gasping for breath. "Ed, I have to push!" She added urgently.

"Not yet, Helena. Hold on."

"I can't wait!" she shouted.

Two nurses came running, with Bob Mathias right behind them. If anything could get their attention in the bustling Medical Center it was that tone in their boss's voice.

One of the nurses pulled Alex off of his father's shoulders and ushered David to the door. The other helped Ed position Helena in the examining chair.

Helena moaned and sat forward. "My water broke!"

Bob was doing everything he could to get the chair in the right position. John stood behind the chair, hands on Helena's shoulders, trying to keep her calm while remaining out of the others way. The nurse who had taken Alex away returned and began to help remove Helena's pants and boots.

"I really have to push." Helena insisted.

"Breathe, Helena. Hang in there." Ed said, getting into position.

Helena began breathing as instructed. The nurse who had taken Alex patted her on the shoulder. "Alex is with Carolyn. She said she'll keep him as long as necessary."

"Not long," Ed said. "Helena, the baby is crowning. We're all set. With the next contraction, take three deep breaths and start pushing.

Helena nodded eagerly. "John?" she called.

"I'm right here, sweetheart." He held tightly to her shoulders.

"I love you!" She said desperately.

He grinned. Helena rarely showed her emotions in front of others, especially her staff. Her calm, cool demeanor was her trademark, but it was gone now. "I love you too." He kissed the top of her head. "Isn't this awful fast?" he asked of anyone willing to listen.

"Yes, but no one informed your daughter of that," Bob replied. "She seems to be the independent sort."

"Now!" Helena gasped. She gulped in air and began to push, a moan becoming a full-fledged scream.

"Almost," Ed commented as the contraction passed.

Helena nodded, already sweating. John wished there were something he could do to help her. Bob was watching the monitor. "Helena, another contraction is coming."

She nodded, and took another set of deep breaths. The monitor reached a peak and Helena began pushing again. John caught a glance at the monitor and noticed it was beginning to wane. Helena pushed harder. Both nurses and Ed were cheering her on.

"Push! Push! Push!" one nurse chanted, holding her hand, as Helena concentrated her effort.

"It's working, Helena. Don't stop now. I have her head!" Ed called.

Another contraction began before Helena could catch her breath and she didn't try, but continued to bear down. As the contraction peaked, Ed gave a triumphant cry, "Got her shoulders!"

Another few seconds and the baby girl was in his hands. Helena leaned back with a sigh, gulping in air in gasps. The baby gave a squeal that sounded more triumphant than distressed. Helena reached out for the little girl and Ed obliged her, putting the baby on Helena's stomach. Then he reached to massage her belly to help remove the afterbirth.

John was enraptured by the sight of his tiny daughter. Her thick dark hair was plastered to her head with thick amniotic fluid, and her body was reddened from the recent stresses, but to him she was beautiful. Helena touched the baby carefully, counting toes, feeling for pulse and breathing.

In a daze he held her while Bob tied the umbilical cord. Then he took the baby to be weighed and cleaned while the rest of the medical team aided Helena. The baby was a week early, but strong and healthy. She wiggled a bit as the nurse cleaned her up and when John touched her hand she grasped his finger with a strong grip. Her lips smacked noisily. John smiled at the baby. "Just wait, little one. Let Nurse Alicia get you all cleaned up and I'll take you to your mama for your first meal."

"What's her name, John?" Alicia asked the proud father.

"She's Emma Rachel, after Helena's mother and mine."

Emma opened her eyes wide at her name. John was delighted to see they were green like Helena's.

"A very pretty name for a pretty little girl." Alicia concluded. She continued to clean the baby with experienced efficiency.

Helena's staff fussed over her more than she liked, and shifted patients around to give the CMO their most private bed. When Helena tried to protest the special treatment Bob explained, only half jokingly, that this was for their own peace of mind to keep her from running things from her hospital bed. They had just finished settling her in her bed, with a promise to bring supper for her soon, when there came a knock on the partition that separated her from the rest of Medical Center. John peered around the corner then moved closer in answer to her welcoming smile. He held a tightly wrapped bundle in his arms.

In what was becoming a family tradition he bowed formally and said to his wife. "Mrs. Koenig, allow me to present your daughter, Emma Rachel Koenig." He turned to the baby to continue the introductions, "Emma, this is your mother. You may call her either Mama or Mommy, but don't call her Mom until you are at least thirteen."

He handed the bundle to Helena and sat beside her on the bed. The baby had a thick head of black hair and she opened wide green eyes to look up at her mother. Helena smiled delightedly as the baby smacked her rosy lips. She shifted position and John helped her rearrange the pillows so she could more easily support the baby while she nursed. They smiled at each other, both feeling like pros this time through.

The baby took to nursing like a pro as well and finished with a satisfied sigh. She made small growling noises as she settled down for her first nap. Both parents savored the moment, watching their daughter with pride.

Helena's supper arrived shortly and John kissed his wife and left to pick up their son for dinner. Helena ate and dozed while the new baby rested. She felt pleasantly tired, and still a bit euphoric. She woke to the sound of the baby's soft noises; not a cry, just an awake newborn expressing herself. She turned toward the crib, but Emma wasn't there. Sitting in the chair next to the bed was Alan. He held the tiny bundle in his arms. He grinned at Helena.

"We didn't mean to wake you. We were just getting acquainted."

"You didn’t," she replied. "Not really." She turned on her side and watched the two. It occurred to her, not for the first time, that Alan would make a fantastic father. She didn't mention it because she was well aware of his frustration concerning his relationships here on Alpha. He would love to settle down and have a family, but just couldn't seem to find the right woman. During the last eighteen months he had become an unofficial member of the Koenig household, helping with Alex, babysitting when John and Helena's schedules conflicted.

"She smiled at me," he said, enchanted.

"Newborns don't smile," Helena said, amused.

Alan spoke to the baby. "Your mamma just doesn't realize how exceptional you are."

The baby stared up at him, moving her mouth as if agreeing with him.

Helena smiled at the two of them and watched a bond form that would last a lifetime.

Ellen Lindow

January, 1999

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