Surprise!

Posted on Sun Feb 23rd, 2025 @ 9:28am by Commander Peter Horn & Lieutenant Harley Horn-Davis
Edited on on Mon Feb 24th, 2025 @ 12:06am

815 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 8: Palingenesis
Location: Horn residence

Harley paced back and forth in the main living area. The boys were in their respective rooms, probably and hopefully tending to their homework. Ilyas had given her a questioning look earlier which told her that he knew something was up. The boy was sensitive, just like his father.

She stopped pacing when the door slid aside and Peter walked in. A white blur shot past her as Khione stormed forward, nearly knocking her master over as she put her paws on his chest and tried to lick his face. Harley suppressed a smile as thankfully that was just barely prevented.

"Seems I come second these days," she chuckled, when the dog finally settled.

"Hardly," Peter smiled as he shrugged out of his uniform jacket and tossed it over a nearby chair. "She is just faster and extremely needy for attention." He circled his arms around her, then stopped. "What is it?" He asked, studying her face, seeing and sensing something he couldn't quite place.

"Well ..." Harley hesitated, studying her husband's features as well, knowing he could read her with ease if he wanted to even though in all their years of marriage he had always respected the privacy of her thoughts, barring the occasional emergency. "I wasn't feeling very well earlier today, so I had the doctor taken a few scans.."

The human woman paused. "A new chief medical officer, a Cardassian.. he's actually quite pleasant, and professional..."

"Harley, what is it?" Peter pressed, drawing her from her musings, feeling she was stalling, as if she was afraid for his response. "Are you ill? Do you need for me to remain here to care for you?" He would, without hesitation because as always she was his life, his lifeline and he knew without her he'd be lost.

"I will need some care, very soon," she said softly, "and I need you to arrange for extra room. It's going to get crowded here, and busier?" She smiled absently as she thought on things.

Worry creased the Vulcan's brow as he touched his wife's cheek, caressing the soft skin to draw her attention back to him a second time. "What do you mean, are we expecting guests? I am certain if Seleya visits, she will desire her own quarters ..."

This time, Harley locked eyes with his as she took his hand and placed it across her abdomen. Despite being very close to term, and still recovering from the shock of surprise, her body still wasn't revealing anything. "I'm seven months pregnant," she told him, "the doctor told me when he examined me. I didn't know, and I still don't know how I missed it." She cast him a teasing smile. "You missed it too, you were so on the ball when I was pregnant with Connor and Ilyas..."

Peter just stared at her for several seconds. "Seven months?" He breathed, unable to mask his surprise, which quickly was replaced with joy as he drew her close and kissed her affectionately. Something he only did in the privacy of their home.

"Ew! Gross!" Their youngest child exclaimed as he just walked in and witnessed the affection between his parents. "What's going on? Why are you both home?" He glanced between the two in suspicion, not having expected either to be here.

Drawing away from her still surprised husband, but glad for his overjoyed response, Harley turned towards her rebellious child. "You're going to have extra duties soon," she told him, "babysitting duties because you're going to have another brother or sister."

"No way," Ilyas protested, "that's impossible. I'm the youngest, and aren't you too old?"

"Ilyas!" Peter snapped at his son, "you will respect your mother. As you will no longer be the youngest, we will expect you to behave as such and act more responsible as an example to your sibling."

The boy huffed, then stormed out. "Let him," Harley suggested, "it's as much a shock to him, as it was to me. How could I have missed the signs? How did we both miss it, after four children?"

"I do not know, but we will adapt." Peter smiled at her. "We always have, and we will have a nursery ready in time. This child is as welcome as his or her siblings were, and we will be ready. It is a... welcome surprise."

"You're certainly taking this very well," Harley smiled back, "I was worried about it for a few minutes. Having a baby in the house is a huge change, especially with two teenagers in the house."

"I suspect Connor will be more accepting, Ilyas is still discovering his identity, he will come around. I will go and find him later, and we will speak about his responsibilities. For now...let us enjoy this surprise." He drew her back into his arms, allowing their minds to connect so she could sense his genuine joy.

 

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