Tara had found herself most days after Zoe's birth exhausted. She knew she would be tired with being sleep deprived, though she didn't need much sleep to function well, with her CVI. But the little sleep she did need usually was disrupted by her little Zoe. Not that she minded, but it did take its toll. And with the skryll draining her energy stores as well, she was one exhausted lady at times.
Jayson had come over every day to help her care for Zoe and he was a big help. It allowed her some much needed rest. tonight, after shift, almost as soon as he had arrived she had dropped to sleep on the couch. He had helped her to bed and told her not to worry. She didn't sleep longer than a couple of hours though.
As she got up and walked into the main room, she saw Jayson watching over Zoe in her bassinet. Zoe was sound asleep. As he caught sight of her he smiled.
"Has she been this good the whole time?" Tara asked, with a smile as she sat down beside him as she looked into Zoe's peacefully sleeping face.
"Of course she has," Jayson replied. "But that's because she doesn't know how to get into any real trouble yet."
Tara smirked. "She's such a joy. I can't imagine my life without her already... and she's only a week old!"
Jayson stared down into the bassinet at Zoe. "She definitely knows how to steal your heart, doesn't she?"
"She does indeed..." Tara replied in agreement. Finally turning her attention away from her baby, she looked at Jayson. "Would you care for some dinner?"
"I'd love some dinner! It's just been so busy today that I haven't had a chance to get anything to eat!"
"Well, I can replicate just about anything," she replied. "Is there anything in particular you'd care for?"
"Hmmm...I've had a craving for fried chicken lately. I don't know why...maybe I'm pregnant!"
With that Tara laughed softly so as not to wake Zoe, but the merriment showed in her eyes. "Fried chicken it is then! I might have some of that and perhaps some feta cheese and pita bread... maybe even a lamb gyros... Oh Chiron makes me so hungry sometimes! At least its not as bad as when I was pregnant," she said as she laughed again, as she got up and walked to the replicator.
"Yeah, now you're only eating for two, instead of three!" Jayson replied. "Just don't wear yourself out slaving over a hot replicator... I know how hard you work all day!"
She giggled again. "You and I both work fairly hard," she replied, as she requested the items. As they materialized she placed them on the nearby table. "Of course, this is easier than my previous job! And I believe dinner is served," she said.
Jayson immediately latched onto a chicken leg. "Oh, yes! I love this stuff!" he said with a full mouth. "So, does it talk to you?" he asked.
"No, Chiron doesn't exactly talk to me," she replied. "Though I can sense him now, with my telepathic abilities, and of course, he reads me very well... But the Taelons made him to be utilized as a tool - a weapon... He's primative in his thoughts, but designed to be controlled. I much rather look at him as a good friend, or a part of me. I have never seen him as a tool."
"That's good. There are races here that operate a lot like that; you might want to do a little research. Perhaps we can draw Chiron out of his shell a little."
Tara raised her eyebrow and looked at him curiously. "Unfortunately, it wouldn't be very wise to try to give him a will of his own. Considering how dangerous he can be... He is, after all, a very potent weapon."
Just then Zoe emitted a little cry. "Like she's not going to be dangerous some day!" Jayson laughed as he took another bite of chicken. "So, anything you'd like to do tonight?"
"Well, nothing seems to cross my mind at the moment," she said as she bit into a piece of feta cheese wrapped up in a piece of pita bread with a slice of cucumber and tomato. As Zoe cried again, she got up and went to her, gently taking her in her arms and bringing her to the table. For the moment Zoe was contented, so Tara continued to eat.
"I was afraid you were going to say that. I was hoping you'd have some ideas, because quite frankly I really don't feel up to dealing with my roommate tonight."
Tara smiled. "You're more than welcome to stay here," she replied.
"Uhh...I don't know. It just doesn't seem right," Jayson said, suddenly regretting his comment.
Tara laughed again. "Don't be silly!" she replied. "We've been seeing each other. Zoe is technically your daughter... There's nothing wrong with you staying here tonight."
"I suppose," Jayson replied. "I've always been a bit traditional minded on some things. You're the first woman I've ever been even remotely close to, you know."
She looked him over with her green eyes almost sizing him up for a moment. "A good looking man like yourself? I can't imagine that you would have been alone for long at any point in your life," she replied, yet knowing he was telling her the truth.
"I've dated a few women, but none of those relationships lasted long. And I got caught in the 'I only thought of you as a friend' trap a few times as well," he said a little sheepishly.
"Ah," she replied, as she took another bite of her dinner managing to hold Zoe. "Well, they didn't know what they had," she smiled and winked.
"I keep telling myself that...oh, I could tell you some stories!" Jayson said, returning to his usual good humor. "Would you like me to hold her while you eat? I can handle this with one hand."
"That would help me out emensely!" she replied as he came over and took Zoe from her. Zoe just watched, her eyes wide open and just looking around. Tara began to eat the rest of her dinner.
Jayson held Zoe in one arm as he attacked the mashed potatoes on his plate with his free hand. Zoe watched what he did with unusual intensity. "She seems so alert for her age!" he exclaimed around mouthfuls of potato. "Any chance she could have inherited your cyber-viral thingie?"
"She couldn't have inherented the implant itself, but I was given something else that wasn't from the Taelons that increased by abilities... Its a possibility that somehow that was passed down to her," she said, as she thought about the Atlantean who had given her the mental gifts she had such as empathy and telepathy.
"Sounds intriguing," Jayson said as he put down his fork and held Zoe with both hands. Zoe smiled at him as he held her up. "You're just going to be full of surprises, aren't you?" he cooed at the baby.
"Would you believe she's not suppose to be smiling until she's at least a month and a half old? She doesn't do it often, but she does it enough for me to know its not a reflex... and I can sense her emotions as she does it as well," she said. "I would say she is definitely going to be full of surprises."
Jayson was astonished. He really had no idea that the baby was that far ahead of schedule. "If you'll take the baby, I'll recycle the plates. After all, you cooked dinner--I should do the dishes!"
Tara smiled again, "All right," she replied as she took Zoe from him and headed back to the couch.
As Jayson recycled the dishes, Zoe began to fuss. Quickly Tara changed her diaper.
"Would you replicate a bottle for her, also. It's about dinner time for her as well," Tara replied. "You're just a hungry little girl, aren't you?" she said as Zoe began to fuss a bit.
Jayson tapped the controls, and a bottle at just the right temperature materialized. "Can I feed her?" he asked as he brought the bottle over.
"Of course," Tara replied with a twinkle in her green eyes. As Jayson sat down, she gently handed Zoe over. As she watched him, she couldn't help thinking of how Ron would have done things... But just as quickly, she chased the thought away.
Jayson cradled the baby in his arm, propping her head up with one hand as he held the bottle with another. "Something on your mind?" he asked, noticing that Tara had gotten quiet.
She shook her head. "Just watching you with Zoe..." she smiled.
As a few more minutes passed, Zoe finished the small bottle and was drifting to sleep.
"Don't forget to burp her," Tara said. "Then we'll put her in bed."
Jayson, having made the mistake once before, consciously made an effort to put a towel over his shoulder as he patted Zoe on the back. After a number of gentle pats, an audible 'burp' came out of the little girl. "Any more in there?" he asked as he kept patting. After a few seconds, he held her again. "Guess not," he said as he headed with Zoe to the bassinet.
She didn't stir as he set her down. Tara looked on and smiled. "Well, she's good for at least four hours, I think," Tara replied. "Maybe six, but that's most likely pushing it."
"That long?" Jayson asked, half in jest. "You know, it is kind of late. Maybe we should join her in sleepyland."
"Certainly not the worst idea," she replied with a soft laugh. "I usually don't require a lot of sleep, but having the sleep I do need disrupted has played a bit of pavoc with my usual schedule... Of course, I did expect it all to go out the window when Zoe got here, so I was prepared..." she smiled. "I suppose I didn't expect to be quite so tired though."
"Yeah, it's been a long day. I suppose we should turn in...are you sure about me staying here?" Jayson asked.
"Of course," she replied. "Believe me, you're more than welcome to stay here... anytime as a matter of fact."
"Thanks!" Jayson said. "I'll take the sofa."
"You know, you don't have to take the sofa," she said. "We are adults, we are seeing each other... and my bed is big enough to fit two. Plus in my current condition, its not like we could do much other than sleep anyway," she smirked. "Not for a couple more weeks yet." Her cheeks tinted a moment as she realized what she said. Her smiled grew until she almost giggled.
Jayson blushed visibly as well. "That should be just enough time for me to get used to the idea," he thought. "This is still a bit new for me."
"Well, lets get some sleep while she can," she replied, as she gently took his hand.
Jayson squeezed her hand in return as they bedded down. It seemed like only a few minutes before he was awakened again by a crying baby. He blinked his eyes. "Computer, time," he ordered.
<The time is 0217 hours.>
"Right on schedule," he said to himself as he got up to tend the baby.
Tara also stirred. She had heard Jayson get up and leave the room. She was soon to follow. As she got out into the other room, she saw him cradling Zoe and giving her a bottle. She smiled as she walked over to him, gently putting her hand on his shoulder.
"You didn't have to get up with," she smiled. "But thank you."
"Anytime," Jayson said. "I'm glad to be of help. And if I'm going to be staying here I'd better get used to it," he said with a sly smile.
"I was just thinking, perhaps it might be more of a benefit to all three of us if... if perhaps you'd consider moving in?" Tara's cheeks tinted as she said it. She felt a bit awkward asking. Though she was an independant woman, she had never thought of herself as the one setting up the cohabitation talks. It felt strange. Perhaps it was just simply remnants from her early upbringing, she thought.
Jayson thought for a moment. "It is a thought," he said. "It's something that's going to take a lot of getting used to for me," he said as he gently rocked Zoe in his arms.
"Well, I have been on my own since I was sixteen years old," she replied, "This is going to be a bit of adjustment for me as well. But, I think it would be a good thing for Zoe," she smiled, "And for us as well... We can see how we work out as a family."
"Family..." Jayson said pensively. "I like the sound of that. I haven't seen my own family since I joined Starfleet. It's been a lonely haul." He took a deep breath. "But I don't want you to think that's why I'm doing this."
She looked down for a moment as she sat beside him. "If you were just doing it for Zoe, I could accept it..." she replied, feeling like she would do anything for her daughter. But she hoped there was more, and sensed that there was.
"No, I'm not just doing it for Zoe, although she is a good reason," he said as he smiled at her. Then, he looked straight at Tara. "I'm doing this for us and would do it even if Zoe weren't around. I really do care about you--you've come to mean a lot to me."
With that, he caressed her face with his free hand and leaned over and kissed her. Zoe didn't even make a peep. As the kiss ended Tara looked at him, smiled, caressed his face and kissed him again. "It does make me happy to hear that," she said, "I don't know what I'd do without you..."
Jayson put his finger up to Tara's lips. "You would do just fine. You're that kind of person. Now, let's not disturb the baby while she's finally back to sleep," he said, kissing her again, this time more gently.
With a little burping, Jayson put Zoe back in her bassinette once again. As they stood up, Tara again took his hand, this time more emotions carried through. As they looked at each other, they exchanged smiles.
"Lets get what precious sleep we can," Tara whispered with a bright smile.
"Good idea," Jayson said. "I've got watch at 0600, after all!"
They headed to bed, hand in hand realizing together that this was a new turn in their relationship. A big leap they were making together... But both had faith that they were meant to be together. That somehow destiny had brought them to this place and time. That the wheels to fate moved and had reason... This was part of the movement.