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When the doctor flipped a few switches and pushed a few buttons, the incubator started to hum with life. Soft lights surrounding the baby on the inside began to glow softly.

“Beginning cellular restabilization. This will hurt him for a couple of seconds, but will pass and the process will be completed. Do not touch him or the healing tube until I tell you it is safe.” The doctor waited for her to acknowledge his words before he turned away again and flipped another switch.

As she watched, Alex sucked in a breath and then screamed so that Anna’s first instinct was to snatch him up, but Kahn held her back, whispering, “Wait,tarae. Only a second or two more.”

Anna looked to the doctor, beginning to feel frantic. Tears slid down her face unchecked. She could not bear another second of this. Her son needed her… again. And unlike the last time, she would be there for him.

“Please! He needs me,” she sobbed.

“You may go to him now, madam. Cellular restabilization completed, patient’s vital signs normal. Congratulations, madam.”

Anna didn’t wait to hear the doctor’s last statement. She rushed to Alex the moment he’d let her and was now cradling her son against her chest, comforting him and crying with him.

After a few minutes, Alex’s cries stopped and he looked at his mother. “Hello, booger.” That name had always made him giggle. This time was no exception. The child giggled through the tears and started cooing and gurgling as any five-month-old should do.

“I need a bottle for him and some baby food.” She looked to the doctor for help, but Kahn had a bottle already in hand.

“Give him this and I’ll see what we have on Gothe’mar that is similar to what you would give him on Earth.”

She took the bottle without acknowledgement and began feeding her son. She only hoped they would let her finish this one thing before they took him away from her. There was no doubt in her mind that they would take him. Worse, she knew there was nothing she could do. Fighting would only cause her more injury and distress her son. Frustrated, lost in despair, she knew she was beaten.

“He needs a diaper and clothes. And he is used to sleeping with his Buggly Bear.” She started to cry again despite her resolve not to. “Some… someone will have to… rock him to sleep because… I-I’ve never put him to bed by himself,” she said between sniffles. “And he n-needs… a n-nightlight.” She was rambling and she knew it, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Giving him up this time would kill her. Without Kahn to sustain her, she knew she would grieve herself to death.

Then she felt strong, warm arms surround both herself and Alex. Even as angry as she was at Kahn, she couldn’t stop herself from turning to him for help.

“I can’t let them take him away from me, Kahn,” she sobbed. “Please help me. I’ll do anything, anything! Just please don’t take him from me.” She was crying uncontrollably now, to which Alex pulled back and looked at her, then at Kahn, then back at her and started giggling.

Normally, that would have been enough to stem the flow of tears, but it only made Anna cry all the harder and hug her squirming son closer. She knew that the next moment could possibly be her last with him and she wasn’t letting go for anything.

“Tarae, relax. No one is going to take Alex from you.” Kahn released her and led her to the door. “Come. Let’s get Alex to our room. He needs rest.”

Not trusting the reprieve, Anna clung to Alex. The relief was almost as overwhelming as the earlier grief, but she held on to her control. She wasn’t sure why things seemed to have changed, but she wasn’t questioning her good luck. Lord knows she deserved a little for a change. Kahn guided her to a suite and into the bedroom where a gigantic, very comfortable looking bed awaited her. There was an assortment of infant clothing and supplies in one corner, and Kahn brought her a fresh diaper and a sleeper.

“Here. Dress him for bed. He will need sleep.”

He was right. Alex was rubbing his eyes even as he tried valiantly to avoid that awful creature called sleep. Anna changed and dressed him. Crawling into the big bed with him, she sang softly as she rocked gently back and forth, Alex wrapped snugly in her arms. It wasn’t long before he doddled off, looking as peaceful as an angel.

“We need to talk,tarae.” Kahn’s voice was husky with emotion she couldn’t feel. But when she turned to him, the feelings suddenly swamped her.Sorrow. Overwhelming sorrow.

Her grip tightened on Alex and the child whimpered but continued to sleep.

“Please, let’s talk, then you can rest with him. You both need sleep, but we need to clear the air so we both know exactly where we stand.” The Kahn standing beside the bed pleading with her was not a Kahn she had ever met before or even suspected might exist. He looked like a lost little boy. Vulnerable.This is because of me.

She let his feelings flow over her and deciphered them as best she could. His sorrow stemmed from the possibility that she would not be able to forgive him. He believed there might be no hope for him. And he just might be right.

“Will my decision have any bearing on whether or not I get to keep my son?”

Kahn’s startled expression told her all she needed to know about that. He had no intention of trying to use Alex to keep her in his life. Hearing him say it, however, was a step in the right direction for him. “Of course not! Alex belongs with you. No one will deny that anymore.”

“Then, if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather spend this time with Alex. I don’t much feel like talking to you right now, Kahn. I’m really not sure I ever will again.”

She turned her back on him, cuddling herself against the body of her son, and tried to ignore his devastation. It wasn’t easy. He didn’t say a word. He respected her wishes, but the depth of his despair almost caused her to change her mind.

No. He had to truly understand how much he’d hurt her, betrayed her. He was apparently so ashamed of her that he had let her be beaten, and almost let her lose her son because he wouldn’t defend her. Because he seemed to be afraid of letting his people know he was involved with her.

Which brought up another question: just how involved did he see them? He’d said he loved her, but were their definitions of love the same? She tried to tell herself that she owed it to him to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he had given her Alex back and that was worth more than she could ever possibly repay, but she just couldn’t bring herself to forgive and forget that easily.

She’d sleep on it. If she still hated him in the morning, she’d ask him to take her home. If not, she’d talk to him. It seemed the only reasonable thing to do at this point. He’d just have to understand.

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