nyota_uhura24 | [Key Change Verse

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[Key Change Verse - For ltkyle]

It was hard to believe that she'd only known about the pregnancy for a few hours. Already it felt as if her whole life had changed, and already it felt like she'd been waiting eons to tell John the news. She was trying her best not to speculate on what his reaction would be. Burying herself in work provided a measure of temporary distraction, but her mind kept drifting to her unborn child. Eventually she gave up and called up the computer's database on prenatal care, wanting to at least familiarize herself with what she should expect and how she could ensure the child's health. Then she reviewed the regulations regarding pregnant crewmembers; she could continue to perform her duties for the duration of the mission, though her involvement in away missions would drastically decrease. When she really thought about it, the timing could actually have been a lot worse. She'd be on Earth well before she had to deliver.

Towards the end of his shift Nyota sent John a PADD message asking him to come to her quarters when he was free. She took care not to say anything out of the ordinary, because even though part of her wanted to warn him that this wasn't just another evening, she didn't want to worry him with comments like, "We need to talk." Then she made a mug of tea and tried once more to come to terms with what was happening, joy and nerves still warring for control. She was nervous about not being ready, about John's reaction, about how this would affect her career and their relationship, but in spite of everything this was still a dream come true.

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He had no reason to think that anything out of the ordinary was going on. He'd had a successful day with test one of the rooms that had been down for the past couple days. She was in working order and he hadn't fried an arm in the process like he usually did. When she asked him to come by and see her at her quarters, nothing about the message was out of place. John took his time finishing up and making his way over there, entering her quarters without asking since they had long been programed into each other's quarters.

John smiled at her as he wandered in. "Hey, parrot," he greeted her.

Nyota was settled in a corner of the couch, knees pulled up to her chest and tea in hand. Even though she was expecting John to show up, she was so deep in thought that the doors sliding open startled her a little. Her heart jumped a little in her chest, but seeing him did nothing to slow down its pace. She was tempted to just blurt out her news, but that obviously wasn't the best way to go about this. Smiling at him a little shakily and standing up to walk closer so she could press a brief kiss to his lips, she replied, "Hey, John. How was your day?"

He kissed her softly in return. Seeing her had always been a way for him to end a bad day and given that this was a good day, it made him feel even better. Her smile though seemed a little off. He could tell when something was bothering and he didn't want to press for anything, but he was happy to wait for her to figure out when it was best. There wasn't anything important that she'd keep from him and he already knew that.

Instead, he took her hand and brought her back to the couch with him, taking a seat and tugging her down without spilling her tea so she was snuggled in against him. "Good. Shockingly, I avoided danger and injury. It was a rare occurrence."

She let him guide her back to the couch, smile widening a little when he gently pulled her down beside him. "I'll have to send the transporters a thank you note for actually sending you back to me in one piece for once," she teased lightly, turning slightly to set the mug down on the table beside the couch. Then she snuggled closer against him, as always drawing comfort from his embrace.

She'd thought a lot about the best way to approach this, and despite temptations to first ask him how he felt about kids, it felt unfair to do so. The best thing to do was simply to tell him. Pressing another kiss to his cheek, she said softly, "John, there's something I have to tell you."

He laughed faintly in a way that was perfectly like him. Once she'd settled in against him again, he pulled her close, arm around her and then kissed the top of her head. However, the second she told him she had something he needed to know, John's expression turned reserved and he became very alert to her, though unemotional in the same way he usually did when something important was about to happen. He took things seriously and when he was worried or even slightly concerned, that same reaction happened. He didn't ask what she needed to say because he knew she'd tell him.

The way he wrapped his arm around her and held her close made her heart flutter a little. She was so very lucky to have him as part of her life, and there was no place she felt safer or happier than in his arms. The way he reacted to her words was completely expected. John was always quiet in serious moments, but simultaneously attentive and alert. She firmly believed that he would always be whatever she needed him to be. That didn't change the fact that having to tell him this was making her nervous. Her heart wouldn't stop racing.

Pulling away slightly so she could meet his eyes, she affectionately cupped his cheek for a moment and then said quietly but clearly, "I'm pregnant with your child."

She pulled back to look at him and he matched her gaze. The affectionate gesture of placing her hand on his cheek soften the words she spoke next. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting her to say. He wasn't even sure he heard her right. It took him a moment, letting it process. Didn't she have an implant? He thought she did. He was pretty sure that it had come up in not so many words. His brow furrowed and at first he didn't say anything. He wasn't mad. He wasn't anything, really. "You're pregnant..." he repeated quietly back to her, trying to confirm that's what she really meant.

He was silent for a long moment, and she had to remind herself that this was a perfectly normal and expected reaction from him. She usually felt very in tune with his behaviors, but she was so off kilter at the moment that she didn't feel entirely certain of anything. When he finally spoke he seemed to be asking for confirmation. She certainly couldn't blame him for his surprise. Keeping her eyes locked with his, she nodded slowly and repeated, "I"m pregnant. Apparently the electric fields on Meridius II caused my birth control implant to malfunction, but I didn't know there was a problem with it until my checkup today. I'm about six weeks along."

He didn't nod or change expression. He listened and he waited for her to be done and then he let himself think for a second. She was pregnant. Okay, he could deal with that. It meant that there was a child. His child. He was going to be a father. He was going to have a child who would know his father. John shut his eyes for a moment, breathing evenly and then he opened his eyes again. Looking at her, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her back to him and kissing the top of her head. John pressed his nose to her hair as he shifted so he could get both arms around her. "I love you, parrot," he said softly.

She kept her eyes on his face. Even though he remained all but expressionless, she could see in his eyes that he was processing the news. It would be big news for anyone, but she couldn't really imagine what it was like for him to hear. She'd grown up in a big, loving family with parents who supported her. John had grown up shuffled between foster homes, the only constant a brother who wasn't related to him by blood but who was family nonetheless. The timing may not be right, but she knew she wanted a family with him, wanted children who were nurtured and loved the way she had been.

When he opened his eyes and pulled her into his arms she melted against him, wrapping her arms around him and clinging to him a little. She needed his strength right now. "I love you too," she said softly. "I love you so much..."

He held her. He knew she'd need it. This wasn't just him who she was breaking the news to. She had obviously just found out and she still had to deal with it. It would take both of them to something completely different than what they had previously thought about their relationship. He sighed and kissed her head again before he buried his nose against her hair a second time.

With a deep breath, he said the only thing that made any sense; "Marry me."

She'd needed this a lot more than she thought. Even though she had good friends whom she could rely on, John was the only one who made her feel comfortable letting herself be weak. John was the only one she could ever cling to like this. They were facing a huge challenge, but she could feel his acceptance in his arms and she knew: he would face this with her. They would stand side by side.

Marry me. The words made her heart skip a beat. She had long known that there couldn't be anyone for her but him, that he was the one she wanted to spend her life with. Intense joy flooded her, but it was instantly tempered by concern. "I want to marry you. I want to spend my life with you, but... Promise me you'd still want this even if we weren't going to have a child."

She questioned him and he let her. He could understand where this seemed suspicious, but John, stoney as ever, just smiled to himself. "I was going to propose once we were back from the mission. I'd been considering ways to do it. I might still," he teased. Pulling back a little so he could look at her he cupped her face in his hands and shook his head, "I'm sorry this wasn't some romantic proposal, love. I'm sorry that I hadn't done it sooner. I would have asked anyway. But I want to be able to go to bed with my pregnant wife, not just my pregnant girlfriend."

She blinked a little when he said he told her he'd planned to propose when they got back from the mission, the knowledge making warmth swell in her chest. When he pulled back she looked into his eyes, the words melting her heart. She didn't need a romantic proposal. She just needed to know that he truly wanted forever with her. Placing her hands over his on her cheeks, she tried to blink back the happy tears that were flooding her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, smiling brightly. "Yes, John. I want to marry you with all of my heart. I want a family with you. I want forever with you, my love."

"I always thought you'd put up more of a fight," he smirked, the corner of his mouth turning up briefly. This was a lot to have happen in the matter of an evening. It wasn't what he expected when she told him to come by her quarters. He was just glad to be having a good day. Now with the news and the proposal, there wasn't much more they could go through tonight.

He hugged her to him again, this time he smiled even though he knew she wouldn't see it. Taking a deep breath, John laughed dryly, "Did I ever tell you I wanted children? Wasn't sure how I was going to make it work with my career choice, but I knew I wanted 'em."

"Did you want me to?" she teased, recognizing the little smile. She had all of his smiles memorized by now. "Because I think I've put you through enough." But it seemed that no matter what happened he would always be there for her, supporting her and caring for her.

When he hugged her again she fitted herself closely against him. "No, I didn't know that, but I always thought you'd make a wonderful father. I've wanted kids... almost as long as I can remember, though I'd planned to have them when I was a little older. The Enterprise is no doubt going to be sent on another five year mission, and I wanted to be assigned to it, but this certainly changes things."

Hearing her say she thought he'd make a good father meant more to him than he could express in fact a lot about this unexpected situation was exciting. He hadn't said it yet, but he was happy. Some men would be terrified by the news. Some men would be unsure of how to respond but John, despite the expression on his face that said very little, he was actually ecstatic. Scared, nervous and anxious, but unbelievably happy.

"Eli won't agree," he tease and then looked serious. "We've got to keep the kid away from him. I don't want to think about what he'll teach them." John lauhed lightly, even if he was a bit serious. As for plans, he shrugged, "priorities change as life happens. We'll make life work. Once we're married and you two remain healthy… I don't care where we are."

She laughed softly when he brought up his brother. The false animosity didn't fool her for a second; she knew how much they loved each other and how much John would rely on Eli through all this. "Are you going to accuse me of taking his side if I say he'll make a good uncle? Besides, Chrissy will help keep him in line."

John was right that priorities changed. Nyota had wanted to spend more time in space before she settled down with a family, but there was nothing more important right now than John and her unborn child. Her career still mattered to her, but there was a lot she could do on Earth if they decided to stay there. She had no doubt that the Academy would have her as a xenolinguistics instructor, and there was always research and diplomacy happening on Earth. "I'm happy as long as I have you and our baby," she agreed, and then added softly, "An exploratory mission into uncharted space is no place for an infant, but we have time to think about all that."

"Chrissy has plenty of bad behaviors to teach a kid. The two of then will be worse," he replied flatly. The rest of what she said he took to heart and simply nodded. He couldn't believe that he was actually going to be a father. He never knew anything about his own parents and now he was going to be able to raise a child that would know him and understand what family was. It was a blessing that he had always hoped for.

He furrowed his brow after falling silent and then shifted so that he could stand. Taking Nyota's hands in his he pulled her to her feet. "I did this all wrong," he admitted quietly. Pulling her out to the middle of the room, John dropped to one knee in front of her, holding her hands. "I don't have a ring and I'm sorry for that. I don't have something prepared. I had planned on singing for you but I can't say I have anything ready either. You are going to have to forgive me if this doesn't come out right.."

John cleared his throat, eyes fixated on her face and in the best form of Swahili he knew, he started all over; "I love you, Nyota. I spent my life in a constant state of change. I have no family, no history. I don't know where I came from and when I met you, I didn't know where I was going. When I met you, I knew I had met my best friend. Don't tell Eli. He was quickly being replaced. It wasn't until I had to fight for you that I knew my life would never have stability unless I could call you mine," John cleared his throat, emotion making his voice raw, "I don't show affection well. I didn't learn it. Instead I taught myself how to close it off and deal, but you didn't care. You saw beyond all that quiet in me and loved me anyway. So now I want to pour it all out. This may be the only time I do it, but it doesn't mean it isn't true... I love you, Nyota Uhura. I love your laugh, your voice, that look you get when you are concentrating really hard to learn something new on the piano. I love the expression you give me when you know that I'm not saying everything but you aren't asking me to, because you know how hard it is. I love every time you speak a different language. I love when you mimic my accent. I love... I love it all. Please do me the greatest honor by giving me a permanent family, a steady home and a reason to be myself by becoming Mrs. Kyle."

After spending the day in turmoil, everything finally felt okay again. No matter what challenges lay ahead of them, his loving, accepting embrace made her certain that everything would work out. When he pulled away and stood up she looked at him curiously, but let him tug her to her feet and into the center of the room. Her eyes widened and her heart did a funny little flip when he dropped to one knee and started to speak. She almost interrupted to tell him that she didn't need a ring, didn't even need a song as long as she got to be with him, but she quickly realized he had something to say and resolved to just listen.

He spoke to her in the language of her heart, every precious word making something flutter happily in her chest. She hated how much pain he'd experienced in his childhood but was so very grateful that he'd been able to share it with her. When I met you, I knew I had met my best friend. Happy tears flooded her eyes, because that was why they belonged together, why she knew they could make it through anything. Because they were best friends, had always been best friends. She'd been comfortable with him since that first night on the observation deck, and no one else had ever put her at ease the way he did. She'd never trusted or enjoyed anyone more. When he spoke of having to fight for her, her heart clenched at the memories of rejecting him. She'd been ready to give up on them before she'd even realized what they could have together, but he'd figured it out. He hadn't given up on her.

A few of the tears slid down her cheeks as he told her all the things he loved about her. She was used to interpreting his subtle looks, to reading in to his actions, to seeing love in his smile and feeling it in his touch. But even though she knew some things went beyond words, hearing it like this, in the language he'd learned for her, was overwhelmingly perfect. She knew this didn't come easily to him, but as always he would do anything for her. For a long moment, she was struck absolutely speechless.

"Yes," she finally breathed out in a quiet Swahili. "With all my heart yes." A brilliant smile was tugging at the corner of her lips, and she didn't hold it back. "Thank you my dear John, my light, my music. Nothing would make me happier than being your wife and spending the rest of my life with you." She tugged on his hands, wanting him standing so she could press her lips to his.

John wasn't a crier, so there really was no surprise in the fact that his eyes were dry as she cried. That, however, was not how he showed emotion and the fact that he at all was able to get through that confession and proposal was a miracle. For once - and that may be the only time - he was able to let raw feelings guide him through the words that she deserved to know. It wasn't just because she was pregnant. It was because he loved her. It was because that is what he wanted for them. He wanted to be with her for the rest of his life, anywhere, any time in any way. Having her as his wife was all he could ever ask for.

He got to his feet and pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her passionately, his lips crushing hers. John brought his hands to her cheeks, wiping away her tears even as he kissed her, ignoring the flush of embarrasment at his emotional confessions. He knew it was right. To hear her agree. To hear her love him in return. It was all that ever matter. It was all he would ever ask her for. "I love you," he murmured in standard again.

Nyota didn't cry often, but right now she too overwhelmed by emotion to keep herself in check. Besides, John was the one person she actually let herself cry around. He told her all the time in a million small ways how much he loved and cared for her, but the confession and proposal he'd just gifted her with would be locked carefully in her mind forever. Every word, every lilt and fall of his voice, the exact tone with which he spoke. She would remember all of it as long as she lived.

When he pulled her into his arms again she kissed him back just as passionately, almost as if she was trying to taste the words of love on his lips. "I love you too," she whispered breathlessly. "More than I thought possible. I want to marry you so badly. I love everything about you, John. Thank you... thank you for never giving up on me." Maybe it's a strange time to be thanking him for that, but it's almost physically painful when she thought about the fact that she could have lost him. "Thank you for being my best friend and the love of my life and the father of my child." She kissed him again, winding a hand in his hair.

He said nothing. He let her unwind herself, the emotions and stress falling to him. He'd hold that for her, take it away and give her back nothing but joy. Ecstatic hardly covered it. He was too excited to contain himself and in a flip decision, John lifted her onto his hips so he could have her closer to him. It almost wasn't enough.

With a smirk on his lips he kissed her, pulling back just enough to look at her with a playfulness glinting in his eyes. "I get to be a father," he said, his voice completely level, but inside that was the cheer of a very happy man. Nothing could come together more perfectly. Perhaps it was a tad out of order, but had nothing to fear, nothing to hide. He loved her. A child came from it. What about that could possibly be wrong?

A happy, breathless laugh fell from her lips when he lifted her up, her limbs instinctively winding around him as she kissed him again. She loved how much time they spent physically close together, how right it felt just to touch and be near him. She could easily recognize the happiness in his eyes in spite of the levelness of his voice. It made her smile brilliantly and her eyes light up with shared excitement. Stress and concern would have been perfectly normal reactions for him to have, but instead he was doing what he did best. He was being her rock and her support. The only emotions she could recognize from him right now were happiness and love. "And I get to be a mother. You're going to be such an amazing father," she murmured, kissing the tip of his nose and then nuzzling against him. "We can find out the baby's gender in about a month. Do you want to know before it's born?"

Standing in the middle of the room with the woman's leg wound around him was probably his favorite place to be. That was possibly single track minded, but he hardly cared. Nothing was so perfect as having her wound around him. She nuzzled against him and John decided that was enough of a cue to carry her off to her bed. Her question did stop him momentarily before he continued. He set her down on the edge of the bed and knelt between her legs. Looking up at her, John shrugged while simultaneously sliding his hands up underneath her shirt. "Yes..." he shrugged, "well, no... I don't care what the bloody hell it is, to be honest. I get to be a father." He leaned forward just as that last bit left him, lifting her shirt just enough so he could smile and kiss her stomach.

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