“Siti, you need to wake up,” Moki insisted.
“Mmmph,” Juna managed. “All right, bai.” She rolled over and opened her eyes.
“You were crying last night, siti. Can I help?”
Juna turned to look at him. “How did you know that, bai? You slept in Ukatonen’s room last night.”
“I could smell your tears when I came in. Please, siti, let me help.” He held his hands out for allu-a.
Juna pushed herself upright. “Okay, bai. Show me the baby. I— We may not have her anymore after today.”
For the last few weeks, whenever they linked, Moki would include the baby in the link. Juna could just barely sense the baby’s quiet presence, its metabolism ticking away like a fast watch. Recently, she had felt the baby responding to the link. It was nothing more than a vague flutter of sensation, but it happened consistently whenever she or Moki reached inward to sense the child.
Juna grasped Mold’s arms, and they linked. She felt him enfold her and reach for the baby. She felt the fluttering sensation of the baby. Juna reached deeper into the link, striving to get as close to the little one as possible.
To her surprise, she felt a faint tickle of awareness in response, a feather-brush against her own presence. Juna sent a gentle surge of warmth and love in reply. The baby responded with another, more focused brush of awareness that touched both Moki and Juna. Juna felt a surge of fierce happiness that carried all three of them soaring sweetly into harmony.
Juna clung to that precarious balance of happiness as long as she could. Then the baby began to tire, and the link was over. Juna opened her eyes, and began to weep.
“Siti, what’s the matter? What can I do?”
Juna just shook her head, unable to speak. Moki left, returning with Ukatonen.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“The baby, I— ” and she started crying again.
Just then the doorbell rang. Moki went to answer it, and came back with Sohelia.
“It’s the baby, isn’t it?” she said squatting beside the bed. “You’re afraid you’re going to lose the baby.”
Juna nodded, and took the handkerchief that Sohelia handed her.
“I won’t lie to you, Juna, it could happen. But you have a greater chance for keeping this child than any other client I’ve ever represented, and I’ve won a few of those cases as well.”
“Really?” Juna asked.
“Of course,” Sohelia reassured her. “Don’t give up hope until it’s ripped out of your hands. Now, put on a robe and come eat breakfast. You need to eat.”
Juna nodded and began to pull herself together. Breakfast helped make her feel a little less despairing. Moki had even managed to make her laugh a time or two by the time she’d finished eating. The comm rang as they were clearing the table. Moki answered it and handed it to Sohelia. Everyone stood watching as Sohelia listened.
“All right,” she said. “We’ll be there in forty-five minutes.” She put the comm down. “Judge Matthesen has her verdict.”
“Oh,” Juna said, her mood suddenly deflated. She returned to her room and got dressed, fighting back her fears and doubts.
Juna sat in the defendant’s chair and stared at the scratched plastic table, suppressing the urge to flee. She jumped like a startled cat when the clerk came in and announced the judge. She stood, eyes still anchored to the desk, unable to look up, afraid to hope.
“Please sit,” the judge said, arranging her black robes with magisterial grace as she settled into her chair.
“The purpose of this hearing is to decide whether or not criminal culpability was involved in this pregnancy, and to determine the future of the fetus involved. I find that there was no criminal intent in this pregnancy. It was an accidental pregnancy.”
Juna looked up from the table in amazement. Sohelia clutched her shoulder.
“However,” the judge added, and Juna felt her spirits catch in their soaring. “Due to the unconventional nature of Dr. Saari’s alien companions, I feel it is important that there are other human parents to counterbalance the influence of the Tendu. If Juna is not married by the time the child is four months old, she will have to give the child up for adoption. Congratulations, Dr. Saari, you get to have your child. Case dismissed.”
Juna looked around, stunned by the decision. It was hard for her to wrap her mind around the good news. Moki and Ukatonen’s skins were a riot of celebratory blues and greens.
“Congratulations, Juna,” Sohelia said. “You get to keep the baby.
“But— ” Juna said. “The marriage.”
“Juna, you won!” Sohelia said. “Worry about everything else tomorrow.”
“But who will marry me?” Juna said.
“It will work out, you’ll see,” Sohelia assured her. “There are many families who would love to have you.”
“And the Tendu as well?” Juna asked.
Sohelia’s dark eyes looked thoughtful for a moment. “The Tendu will make it harder, but you’ll find someone, I’m sure of it. But for now, let’s celebrate the victory we have rather than worrying about the next battle. At least your daughter will be born. You have over a year to worry about finding her a family.”
Juna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You’re right,” she said. “I’ve just gotten so used to worrying that it’s hard to stop.”
Analin came in. “Is it good news?”
“Yes,” Juna said.
“Hooray!” Analin cheered.
“But there’s a catch,” Juna added. “I have to be married by the time my daughter’s four months old, or give her up for adoption.”
“Don’t worry,” Analin reassured her. “It’ll happen. Are you ready to make a statement to the press?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about having to get married. It’s going to be hard enough without everyone in the world knowing about it.”
“I understand,” Analin told her. “I’ll set up a press conference in an hour, outside the courthouse. Your brother and Dr. Engle are waiting outside the courtroom for you.”
Juna headed for the door. “We won!” she announced when she saw Toivo and the doctor. “We won!”
“Juna that’s great news!” Dr. Engle said. He hugged her tightly.
Toivo pushed himself up out of his wheelchair to hug her. “I’m so glad, Juna!”
Juna felt tears of joy gather at the corner of her eyes. “So am I!” she said. “So am I!”
The press conference went well. Juna still had the sympathy of the press, and she was able to get away with a simple statement, and five minutes of questions about the baby. She dodged a couple of questions about her pending lawsuit against the Survey.
Then after a couple of light, fluffy questions about the baby’s name, and whether it was a boy or a girl, Juna brought the press conference to a close with a huge sense of relief. No one had asked her about their work at the hospital.
“They’re going to find out what the Tendu can do someday, Juna,” her brother remarked as they headed for a quiet lunch.
“I know,” she said, “but I’d rather keep people in the dark as long as possible. My life is going to be complicated enough just trying to find a family to marry.”
“You’ll find someone, Juna,” he told her. “I know you will.”
Juna shrugged.
“Seriously, keep me posted. If there’s anything I can do, I want to help.” Toivo’s dark, solemn face was intent. For a moment Juna saw their mother’s face reflected in his.
“Thank you, little brother. I’ll keep you posted.” She grinned. “You can come stand by my door and beat the suitors away with a stick when there are too many of them,” she said sardonically. “I’m sure there’ll be suitors lined up around the block, just waiting to marry a pregnant woman who lives with two aliens.”