"Giving Birth . . . and Complications"
written by William Bolitho and Jillian Locke
Lieutenant Kesar Jerricho and Lieutenant JG Jackson

After the captain and the helmswoman had helped Sere into medical She was left in the care of the doctors. But what Sere really wanted was Kesar. She needed him there, she just hoped that he got there in time. She let out a low cry of pain as the contraction hit her hard.

Kesar was already near-by when he got the word, so he had made his way to his fiancee's side as quickly as possible. Problem was, she did not seem to be looking all that pleased at him getting her to this state...

In actual fact Sere had no problem... with him getting her pregnant... just the fact that the twins were early. "Kesar..." she managed holding out a hand.

Kesar took her hand and held it comfortingly. Though he didn't actually feel all that calm. She was in great pain. So much so, that he knew that there were problems... And since the babies were early, too... It was not looking good.

"Remind me to tell Raye off... this is her fault she jinxed me!!" Sere managed through the pain.

Kesar shook his head, "No... She did not... I did... Or more to the point, my genes did..."

"No... It was not... it might be my genes," she managed.

Kesar nodded carefully, "Okay... How about the combination of our genes?" He was getting a bit concerned, however. The amount of pain he was sensing from her was enormous... Enough to knock a normal person out.

A nurse moved around Sere with a tricorder. Sere was not feeling good. The doctor moved closer and shook his head. "Well we'll need to operate Lieutenants. These Children will not be born on their own..."

Kesar nodded, "I know... Neither was I..." He would help as best he could. And try to comfort Sere as much as possible.

Sere nodded softly.

The doctor sedated her slowly and prepped her for the operation.

Kesar nodded slowly as she went under, then looked at the doctor and asked, "How close am I allowed to be to her?"

"As close as you want but just make sure you stay out of our way if need be ok?"

He nodded, "I know... I just wish to hold her hand. That is all."

The doc nodded, "Fine." He turned to a nurse and they got to work.

The procedure was a bit painstaking. The children were fragile, especially being about three months early. And Sere had to be kept well, too. They first removed the boy, though that took a good hour and a half to do, and took him to a seperate room. Then they removed the girl, and sent her along as well. Then, they patched Sere up. But no crying was heard. They then brought Sere back to awareness. Still no sound. Kesar was beginning to get worried. But when Sere was finally fully aware, the first keening wail came from the small room where the babies were being treated. Then another joined in.

Sere looked up grogilly at Kesar. "Sounds like they are ok..." she managed.

He nodded carefully, realizing that the next part was going to be hard on them both... Babies this premature weren't allowed to be held by their parents. Sometimes for a long time.

The doctor stepped up to them and said, "Lieutenants... I am afraid that your children will need to be in Hermi-Cribs for a while. They are very small and we do not know if they will live... When you are up and about Lieutenant Jackson, You may go and see them."

"I wish to see them now," Sere said. "They are my children and I want to see them now."

The doctor sighed. "You are not fit enough to walk there..."

"Then bring them in here!"

The doctor just nodded resigned to it and went to get the twins.

Kesar watched carefully. He knew that things were always troublesome in this case.

The nurse brought in a hermi-crib with two small babies in it. Sere sat up as much as she could to have a look.

The two babies looked quite fragile. As they had been born nearly three months early, they did not have any of the fat that made babies so cute in many cases. Their skin looked like that of newborn kittens, hairless and wrinkled. But they were cute. At least to Kesar and Sere.

Currently, they did not even have small diapers on, so it was easier to tell them apart. The boy opened its eyes and looked upon his parents, though it was almost certain he could not see them all that clearly. Then he began to cry, with what little breath he had. It was obvious he missed something.

Sere leaned back against Kesar and watched him. She wanted to touch them and to hold them, but she knew that it would be impossible...

Kesar also knew that... Sort-of. Actually there were ways that allowed the parents to at least caress their children. But, they were not available at the moment. More to the point, Sere wasn't strong enough to do so yet. He looked at his wife-to-be and whispered, "I think we should name them, my love."

She nodded and said, "Ok."

Kesar nodded carefully, then looked at his son, "I think... he should be named... for someone with a bit of strength and willpower..." He turned back to Sere, Unfortunately, being male that means he can't have your name..."

She smiled, "I think we should call him Kesar. After his handsome and wise and kind hearted father." She looked up at him.

Kesar nodded carefully, "That might be good, yes... I can only hope he will have better luck with it than I have had... at least in the first thirty or so years."

She smiled. "With you as his father... how could he not darling?"

Kesar smiled softly, "Well... At least that is different, yes."

She took his hand and kissed it. She then turned back to their daughter. "And what shall we name her?"

He shrugged, "I would name her after you, but... one Serenity is enough... Besides... if you are supposed to be a picture of serenity... Perhaps she should be named Crescentia or something of the sort... Or perhaps after some form of celestial body?"

She smiled again. "How about Celene?" she suggested. "Means Child of the moon," she said with a smile.

Kesar smiled, "That is good, love. Shall we give them middle names, as well?"

She nodded. "Yes..."

He nodded carefully, "I am not sure if my middle name would be all that great in this case... My mother gave me the middle name Fumeiyo... I believe it means dishonor."

Sere nodded. "Then, let's give him a name that means something good... Like Peter, or Daniel, or Matthew," she said with a smile.

He nodded carefully, "I can only think of a few that might work... Caleb... Boaz..." A ghost of a smile, "Sarek..."

"Sarek is a nice middle name," she said with a smile.

He nodded, "Agreed... So his name is Kesar Sarek Jackson. At least right now it is..."

She shook her head. "No. Kesar Sarek Jerricho," she stressed.

Kesar smiled softly, "He will be, yes... When you become Serenity Jackson Jerricho..." He looked at her lovingly, "For I know they will both live through this."

"No he is now," she said. "They both are your children and therefore from birth have your name."

He nodded carefully, "All right." He then thought for a moment, "How about our daughter? I can think of some names that might work... Sehanine... Jael... Damaris... Priscilla... Prisca... Lydia... Hadassah... Saavik..."

"I like Priscilla as a middle name," she said with a soft smile.

Kesar nodded, "Then that is what it shall be..." He looked at the doctor, "Can you make up the documents we need, sir?"

The doctor nodded carefully, "Of course..."

Kesar nodded, then paused, before turning back to the love of his life. He spoke softly, "Sere... I know that... most people in Starfleet and the Federation believe that... religion is a crutch for the weak... but... I wondered if you would allow them to be... baptised?"

She nodded. "I would not only agree but I was going to suggest it."

He nodded carefully, "Now, if only there were a pastor on board... Problem with that aforementioned belief..."

"I am sure we could find one love..." she said trying hard not to yawn again.

He nodded carefully, then saw the doctor looking at them both cautiously, "Yes, Doctor?"

He walked over and said, "I believe that Lt Jackson needs sleep as do the children. I will have them moved all moved into a private room. Lieutenant, you are confined to bedrest for the rest of the week." He paused.

Kesar could sense something was wrong. He also had an inkling what it might be about...

The Doctor cleared his throat. "Lieutenant I recommend that you do abstain from trying to fall pregnant for the next couple of years. Your body will not be able to handle the stress nor will any child you concieve."

Kesar breathed out slowly... It was bad... But not as bad as he feared. He had expected the doctor to say something to the effect of Sere should not EVER get pregnant again.

Sere looked at her hands for a moment. "I'd like another opinon," she said.

The doctor nodded, "Yes... Everyone so told does... I'll let you decide who."

Sere already had her mind made up. "Linds," she said looking at Kesar. "I want to talk to Linds."

Kesar nodded, "Yes... She'll work."

She nodded.

The doctor just nodded. "Very good. Lieutenant I suggest you get some sleep. We will move you shortly."

Kesar nodded carefully at that. But he did not let go of her hand. Not yet. He still had at least one more thing to do before he could do so... He looked at Sere lovingly and whispered, "You did well Sere... Madre de mis niņos..."

She smiled softly up at him and relaxed against the pillows. "We both did well love. They are our children."

He nodded softly, "True... But you did the hard part." He leaned over and kissed her softly.

She kissed him back. "Love you," she murmured as she drew back slightly.

He nodded, "I know... As I love you... Forever."

She smiled again and then kissed his cheek, before settling down into the bed to rest.

Kesar nodded, and watched her until she faded off to sleep. He then found a chair, and pulled it over beside her. He hoped that the Captain would forgive him for this... But right now he had little intent of leaving his wife's side. Especially when he thought she would need him there.