A/N: I'm sorry, but after Picard I just need [SPOILER ALERT] happy Icheb. This is a prequel of sorts to my story "All Fall's Apart" and contains a very, very mild spoiler for Picard, not quite sure where it came from, but I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Compatible

"Ah, the blushing bride," the Doctor greeted Naomi as she entered his office.

Naomi shook her head with a smile, "I've been married to Icheb for almost three years now, Doctor, I'm hardly a 'blushing bride'."

"Well, just a bride then," the Doctor conceded with a small smile, gesturing for her to sit opposite him, "What can I do for you? I doubt this is a social call."

Naomi looked a little embarrassed as she sat down, "No, it's not a social call."

"Well?"

"I think I might be pregnant," Naomi blurted out, "but that's impossible, right? I mean, I know that physically we're compatible," she continued before the Doctor could comment, blushing as she spoke, "but I have been starting to feel nauseous in the morning and…I missed my last two cycles…so I thought…maybe…"

She broke off with a shrug and looked imploringly at the Doctor, who gave her a reassuring smile.

"Just breathe, Ensign," he instructed, slipping into formalities in a further attempt to calm her. "First things first, let me run a scan," he added, picking up his medical tricorder and stepping around his desk.

Naomi took a deep breath and, at her nod, the Doctor proceeded with his scan.

"What is it?" she asked as he raised his eyebrows.

"It would seem that your suspicions were correct and congratulations are in order," he informed her with a smile, "you're about nine weeks pregnant."

Naomi slumped back in her chair, looking bewildered, "How did this happen?"

The Doctor smirked, "Well, I believe you mentioned that you and the Lieutenant are, ah, physically compatible."

Naomi ducked her head with a blush and the Doctor decided to take pity on her. "I know we never spoke specifically about children in the past, Ensign," he began in a gentle tone, "but there was never any reason why they wouldn't have been a possibility."

"I guess I never really thought about having children," Naomi said after a moment. "Is it…is the baby healthy?"

"Completely healthy," the Doctor assured her, "I'm afraid this is the first Ktarian/Human/Brunali pregnancy I have ever encountered," he continued, "so I can't give you an exact idea as to the gestation period. But I believe it would be similar to the Ktarian/Human gestation period of eighteen months."

Naomi nodded absently and the Doctor shook his head in fond exasperation, "Perhaps you should tell your husband first," he added, "we can discuss further specifics once you've had some time to process this."

Naomi looked up with a grateful smile, "I will, thank you Doctor."

"Take care of yourself, Naomi," the Doctor said as he followed her to the door, "and give my best to Icheb."

"I will," Naomi assured him, "thank you again, Doctor," she added as she left.

The Doctor watched her make her way down the corridor for a few moments, silently grateful that – despite their return to the Alpha Quadrant – he was still able to witness moments such as this.