Living Memories

By: Jennica Williams

DISCLAIMER: I am not using Star Trek for profit. Paramount owns the characters, the ships, the uniforms, the biogel packs, even Neelix's food, I'm just here playing around with the ideas running through my head. No copyright infringement is intended.

Disclaimor #2: Pathways is owned by Jeri Taylor. not me. I just used it as a reference guide on the earlier lives of our favorite characters.

Year: 2379

She thought they now only existed in the minds of those who had known and loved them, but it was not to be. Seven years ago, something drastic had happened. Something that would change her and her crews' lives forever-- they got home and were reunited with their families.

Captain Kathryn Janeway reached a hand to her face and tucked a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear. She had done it. The impossible task had been accomplished. Voyager was home. Twenty minutes ago, her home of the past eight years had docked with the Deep Space 9 station and Starfleet had been informed that the legendary crew had returned home.

She would be forced to endure endless questions and interviews in the near future, for now though, the crew was alone. After speaking with Benjamin Sisko via subspace channels, Janeway had opted to leave the ship at recycling mode, due to the strain the slip stream technology put on the now outdated Intrepid class ship, in order to restore enough power.

The technology had been an exhausting search in itself. After Seven of Nine and the captain had been kidnapped by the impostor Starfleet vessel, Seven had dedicated much of her time to discovering how to adapt slip stream warp fields to Voyager's engines on a more permanent basis. Ensign Harry Kim and Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres had learned of her obsession and joined in the search. With Voyager's three greatest technicians on the project, the slip stream warp drive was on-line before their sixth year in the Delta Quadrant. The two and a half year journey home was begun immediately.

*Beep*

Kathryn shook herself out of her day dream. Darn. It had already been three hours since they'd shocked the Alpha Quadrant by docking at DS9 and, after speaking to HQ, she had intended to finish up some last minute business. No such luck. A stack of unread data padds still sat on the corner of her desk.

"Come."

The doors hissed open to reveal her XO, Chakotay, who wore an emotion in his eyes she had never seen before. It unnerved Janeway that she couldn't tell what the man was feeling by just glancing at him.

"What is it, Chakotay?" Standing, she came around the corner of her desk and faced him. "Are you going to try again to persuade me to elope with a dashing, handsome Maquis captain?"

The corners of his mouth turned up at their running joke. "Would you accept?"

"You're a scoundrel, Chak!" She punched his arm lightly. Tom Paris was smiling at them from his spot at helm control. The bridge officers had grown accustomed to their bantering on and off of the bridge-- had come to expect it even. And, while the junior officer continued to speculate they were more involved, the bridge and other senior staff members knew the two only shared a close friendship which allowed for them to tease each other-- on a never ending basis. "What's on your mind, Commander?" Then she leaned in and whispered to him loud enough for the entire bridge crew to benefit, "You know, we have to start calling each other by titles again. Starfleet probably doesn't want us running around on a first name basis with simple helm officers."

Tom snorted from his console. "Whatever, Captain!"

Chakotay and Kathryn exchanged wide grins before he laid a hand on her arm. "Actually, Kay, there are two officers here to see you."

She rolled her eyes. "Already? I thought I had a few days before the interrogations began." Fluffing her hair, she questioned him. "How do I look? Ready to take on the Federation?"

"Beautiful and of course." He leaned a bit closer. "You took on the Kazon, Borg, Hirogen, and Orllegrans. A few officers should be nothing for you."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Are they already in the conference room?"

"No. They insisted on coming straight to the bridge."

Her eyes widened. Had these two officers heard everything they had been talking and laughing about??

"We heard everything."

Captain Janeway's mouth opened in shock as the two men, hidden by the entrance of the ready room, stepped into her visual line.

Both sported Starfleet uniforms, but the admiral was a good deal older than the commander. His brownish-red hair was streaked with gray and his face was quite a bit more wrinkled than Kathryn remembered, but his eyes were the same twinkling gray-blue like her own.

The young commander's dark hair still fell over his forehead in that way Kathryn had found endearing nearly fifteen years ago. He was nearly as muscular as she remembered, although his eyes, deep blue orbs that had both challenged and confronted her on their first meeting, were a dark flash of cerulean with unspoken jealousy.

Kathryn's hands came to her mouth in astonishment as she stood rooted to the floor. "Daddy....Justin...."

Admiral Janeway was the first to move forward and wrap his daughter in a tight embrace. "Kathryn." He whispered, not bothering to hide the tears which were quickly gathering in his eyes. "I've missed you so much, Goldenbird."

"Daddy....where?....I mean...how?....It's...this isn't possible!" Kathryn stumbled over the words much to the amusement of her senior bridge officers. They had never heard her utter a single syllable she wasn't sure of.

He released her and brushed the tears from her cheeks. Kathryn hadn't even realized she'd been crying. "You're forgetting someone, Kathryn."

She gasped sharply, and then flew into Justin's arms as a different sort of sob shook her body. Justin clutched the distraught woman close to him and gently offered her his support. "I've missed you, Kathryn." He said simply.

She pulled back and looked at him for a moment unable to believe he was really there. Then, keeping her hands on Justin's strong shoulders, she glanced back at her smiling father. "How?"

Justin stepped out of her embrace and guided her into the ready room. "We'll be able to explain it better in private." He smiled as the door hissed shut leaving everyone on the bridge- especially Chakotay- wondering what was going to be said.

"How?" She asked again with each man flanking her sides on the couch.

Edward Janeway took a deep breath. "What I say now, is going to be the hardest thing I've ever told you, Kathryn." He gazed out of the view window for a moment before beginning. "It was planned, from the start, that the mission in the Tau Ceti system would fail."

"The Cardassians had been getting wind of more and more of our technology. Starfleet wanted to discourage them from trying any of it, and the Terra Nova shuttlecraft seemed perfect. If we couldn't construct a shuttle which would fly safely, then they would question the superiority of our other technology. Justin and I were elected to go on the mission, which would consist of an actual flight-test, followed by numerous failures, a crash landing in an ocean, and our being rescued by a Klingon freighter which would be conveniently posted nearby. When we decided to allow you to come with us, I made sure with absolute certainty that you would be thrown clear of the debris and picked up by a Federation vessel within a few minutes."

"We didn't count on a small well-armed Cardassian armada of trading vessels being in the same proximity. The Klingon freighter was no match for them. Justin and I were quickly taken prisoner and left to only wonder about your predicament. For over twenty years, we were held in a Cardassian prisoner camp. They knew winning the war would be a hopeless cause and hoped that by having an admiral and lieutenant as bargaining chips would assist them when it did come time to talk of peace, so we were kept alive. Barely. Those first nine years we prayed daily for death to take us. Yet, at the same time, we knew we had to live for you and our family. The Cardassians extracted everything of any valuable about the Federation and then tossed us aside. It wasn't until nearly ten years after we were taken prisoners that they saw our value. By forcing us to work on and create new technology for them, we were given an inside view of their operation."

"After awhile, Justin and I created a small shuttle out of various materials and managed to convince our warden that it was a necessary component of a new test shuttle. Within eight years, we were ready to launch it. Biding our time, we waited until Kulwak. The Cardassians aren't animals, you know. They do have some holidays and this one is reserved for everyone to be home with their families. Everyone of Cardassian blood. No exceptions. Including our guards. Justin and I bypassed security measures and practically walked into where our test 'shuttle component' was being stored. We had a nineteen hour head start before anyone realized what had happened. Within that time, we met up with an old friend of yours, Owen Paris and his ship, the Icarus, and got out of there."

"After informing Starfleet of our escape and giving them the information we had obtained by working with their new ships and shuttles and weapons, we opted to hide in a small Klingon colony on T'Reciak Four. The Cardassians were hunting for us and would stop at nothing. We didn't want to endanger our family, so we stayed in hiding for a year-- until the peace treaty was signed. Then, we were allowed to return home. But, you were gone, Goldenbird. Your mother told me of the grieving you had gone through after Tau Ceti and of her and Phoebe's own grief when your ship disappeared. They told me of how joyful they were upon receiving the transmission through the message relays and discovering that you were still alive, even if you were over sixty years from home. I was heartbroken that you weren't there too. I know that afternoon in the Tau Ceti system would be a horrible one for you, and I wanted to be there to help you." Edward smiled slightly. "I think Justin did too. And, Kathryn, now that we're back, we're ready for our lives to go on. As one family."

Captain Janeway wasn't fully aware of Justin's arms supporting her as she leaned against him. She wasn't even focusing on her father's face. Just the words. The story. They had been prisoners of the Cardassians for over twenty years and lived to tell about it. That, in itself, was a miracle. Pulling herself back to reality, she looked over at Justin. "I thought I had lost you." She whispered.

"It was the hardest thing I've done, Kathryn." He admitted. "I wanted so much to come back right away, but I physically couldn't. I just hope I'm not too late...."

Edward took that as his sign to leave. Standing, he held out a hand to his daughter and Justin. "I'll be on your bridge, Goldenbird. I've still got to take the grand tour of this ship of yours. Perhaps you can show me around later?"

"Of course, Dad." She felt Justin's arm tighten around her. "Later."

As the doors whooshed shut behind her father, Janeway eased herself out of Justin's arms so she could look at him fully. She didn't really know what to say to him. Once upon a time, they had been engaged. She wasn't sure the engagement was still on or not, more than twenty years apart was quite a bit. But, she wasn't sure she wanted to call it off either.

"Kathryn..." Justin hesitated, but picked up her hand. "I know you've probably got a lot of questions. I'll answer anything I can, but,....." He took a deep breath and moved his gaze from her hand to her blue eyes. "I hope we can try to recover the future that was taken from us."

Memories whirled through her mind. Her and Justin's first meeting. His rescuing her from the Cardassian moon. Their working together in the science labs. Their first kiss, which resulted in an explosion in astrometrics- literally. Dinners at her house. Long walks in the cornfields. Their engagement. She grasped his hand firmly. "Yes, Justin. We must rekindle our friendship." She glanced down at their twined hands. "Maybe more."

It had been an exhausting week of whirlwind activities-- mostly her and other senior officers being questioned to great length of the different occurrences the merged crews had faced together. Their crew, once divided, then joined by a common goal, now felt as though they were being torn apart. Starfleet was adamant about promoting each individual who had been officially enlisted, but they were hesitant to even consider allowing those officers who had not attended the Academy to return as normal citizens without a criminal record.

*Beep*

"Come."

Captain Janeway didn't look up as the doors to her ready room hissed open to reveal the man who would serve as her first officer for the last few hours of Voyager's journey.

"Captain."

She finally looked up and found Chakotay's dark brown gaze resting on her through his own pain-- a pain that deepened with every second she spent with Justin.

"Commander...is there something I can do for you?" She was the first to break the lock their eyes held with one another. It caused her distress to know she was hurting him, but he was unable or unwilling to see what had been handed back to her. Justin had not been a short term love! Even after Mark, Kathryn had still thought and dreamed of the man who had pushed his greatest fears aside so he could save her life-- Lt. Justin Tighe.

"Yes, Kathryn." Chakotay paced the small room and finally stopped in front of the windows where the stars zipped past at warp three. Each star, a blazing dot of light in the lonely blackness of space. Yet, together, the single stars joined hands to create this glorious feast for his eyes.

"What is it?"

Her hand on his shoulder caused him to turn. Blue eyes peered questioning at him.

"Are you going to marry him?" Chakotay instantly regretted blurting out the words on his heart, but had to know the answer.

Janeway removed her hand from her first officer's shoulder and drew in a shuddering breath. "I don't' know yet.. I want to, Chakotay. I know it's not what you want to hear, but I feel it's best to be honest with you."

He gave a short nod and turned away. "Tell me this, Captain. After New Earth, did you love me?"

She hesitated too long to use a well thought out lie. He'd know instantly. So, she told him the truth. "Yes, I did. Very much so. But there were too many obstacles while we were out there."

"He'd taken a few steps closer and cupped her face in both of his large hands. "They aren't here now, Kath."

"But Justin is." She reminded him.

His hands dropped from her face as though she had burned him. "Justin Tighe was a fool to leave you." He began. "I can see in him something I never wanted for you-- a jealous man." Chakotay took her hands in his, but was caught off balance when she jerked away.

"Commander, you have no right to call Justin jealous or anything of that sort when you barely know him!" She glared at him; cobalt flames shooting from her eyes. "I thought you were my friend. Someone I could trust to give me an honest opinion without his own hormones getting in the way. Apparently, you're not. I would appreciate it if you'd leave now."

Chakotay stood, rooted to the spot as thought he'd been stung. When had this turned so ugly?! Well, he would have the last word before leaving. "Kathryn, he's not who he was. I know you wouldn't' have fallen in love with an over-bearing, jealous man, but that's exactly what he has become." He raked a hand through his sable colored hair and then continued. "He's going to break your heart one day," He predicted. "I'll be here when you need someone to pick up the pieces."

With those last words, Chakotay turned and walked out of her ready room. Two hours later, they entered Earth's orbit and he transported to the surface knowing he wouldn't ever see Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager again.

B'Elanna Torres glanced around Engineering one last time. The warp core, usually humming its steady rhythm of pulsing life, now lay quiet and dark. The consoles, which had flashed non-stop warnings(or so it seemed) for eight years, revealed only a steady blink here and there to give the assurance that Voyager was indeed docked and would never again fly through the stars.

Tears squeezed out of B'Elanna eyes. A museum. They were going to turn the glorious ship into a museum for people to wander around and marvel at. Her precious ship-- the only one in the Federation sporting slip stream technology-- would soon house only empty quarters and holograms of the crew performing various everyday tasks-- like ejecting warps cores and fighting the Borg.

That nearly made B'Elanna laugh. If Starfleet had cared at all about the crew, they would have shown parties in the mess hall, the two senior officer's excursions on the holodeck, the Doctor repairing various crew members, Tom complaining about nursing duties, Seven and Janeway butting heads-- the sort of things that really did go on.

"Are you ready?"

Torres nearly jumped three feet as Tom's arms slid around her small frame.

"Not quite the same, is it?" He asked softly.

"I didn't expect it to be."

"B'Elanna, don't hide it from me. You're going to miss this place."

She wiped at a tear angrily. "I know I will, Tom. I had hoped we'd never make it home."

"Me too." He drew in a deep breath. "Time to face the fireworks." At her confused glance he corrected himself. "My father."

As B'Elanna rematerialized on the hard marble floor of Headquarters, the first thing she was aware of was Earth's slightly higher gravitational pull. The next was of a Starfleet officer with admiral pips running towards Tom to engulf him in a hug. Cameras-- the old kinds with flashing lights and the newer microheat sensitive kind-- were buzzing to record the event which would be broadcasted from every station in every colony within the Federation. She felt sorely left out of the event until Tom turned and pulled her towards him, his arm staying firmly planted around her waist.

A figure ahead of them pushed the media out of the way so they could safely reach Admiral Owen Paris' huge office on the third floor of HQ.

"You'd think that in the twenty-fourth century there would be a better way of doing this!" Tom exclaimed after the door had been secured behind him.

"Relax, my boy. Even now the media wants to know everything that goes on up here." He slapped Tom on the back. "Especially when it comes to welcoming home a crew that has been missing for eight years."

Owen Paris looked over his son quickly. The shock of reddish blond hair had become a bit more blond, his eyes were still a piercing and challenging blue, but it was what he saw inside of his eyes that caused respect for his son to grow. Tom Paris' eyes spoke of true battles. Of facing death and living to tell about it. Of fighting aliens who didn't care one bit about you, of losing loved ones, of learning to love again.

The admiral's gaze suddenly swung to the object of his son's love. Half Human, half Klingon B'Elanna Torres. Former Maquis. Voyager's Chief Engineer. And completely, in his opinion, wrong for his son and his family. Forcing his disdain of the woman deep inside of him, Owen Paris reached out and shook her hand as Tom proudly introduced her.

"Our family hopes you will join us for dinner this evening, Miss Torres." Owen found himself saying.

B'Elanna glanced at Tom. She wasn't Betazoid, but it was obvious to her that his father did not like her. For what reason, she couldn't fathom.

"Of course we'll stay, Dad." Tom rolled his eyes. "For the night too if you'll allow it."

"Of course, of course." Briefly, he wondered about the sleeping arrangements.

But, of course, there was no need to worry. After dinner and an evening of pleasant talking about Voyager's eight year travels, Moira and Kathleen led B'Elanna down to a guest room she could use.

As B'Elanna lay in the darkness, cool sheets covering her body as she relaxed to the stronger pull of Terra's gravity on her body, she thought back over the evening.

Admiral Paris hadn't lived up to his name of being a cold-hearted jerk, in her opinion. He was very attentive towards Tom and had been eager to hear of everything that had occurred during the last eight years. Especially anything that had to do with the Borg.

Moira and Kathleen, Tom's older and very beautiful sisters, had concentrated on bringing B'Elanna, who had to admit she was a bit more shy than usual, into the conversation. They continually pumped her for information concerning the engineering aspects of each battle- which the admiral was soon eagerly awaiting to hear.

Outsider her window, leafy ivy grew over a lattice structure. She could hear the wind blowing softly through the leaves and tiny birds whimpering for their own dinner meal. Her lasts thoughts before drifting off to sleep was how peacefully different it was compared to the steady hum of Voyager where she was always monitoring the sounds and rhythms of the ship-- even in her sleep.

B'Elanna felt a panic rising inside of her. Something was wrong with Voyager. Why couldn't she feel the humming of the inertial dampers working? Why was it that the warp core stood silent instead of vibrating the ship? What was going on?! With a start, she sat straight up in bed....and then laughed at her foolishness. Nothing was wrong. She had simply become too accustomed to the sounds and feels of a ship.

Glancing out of her window, B'Elanna could see that the sun was just beginning to rise. Padding over on bare feet, she was able to view the birds that had been whimpering the night before. Tiny, ugly things, she mused. But they were cared for and their own kind loved them. She wrapped her arms around herself with a sudden shiver in the early morning. Their own kind. She didn't have a 'people' to love her in that sense. She was a blend. A half-breed. Even now, after all she'd gone through to prove herself, she still felt like the tiny little girl who had hidden under her bed because some kids at the playground hadn't wanted to play pre-squares with her. Alone. Left out. Loved by so few.

There was no time for this. Briskly, B'Elanna turned from the window and pulled her nightgown off to be replaced with the Starfleet uniform from her bags. Funny. Eight years ago, she hated what the uniform stood for and would have gladly pushed it aside. But now, she didn't want to give it up. Running a brush through her short brown hair, she quickly dusted some light make up over her features and then hurried out of the room after tidying up a bit.

"You just missed him." Moira grinned from her place at the long table at which she sat eating breakfast. "He should be back in a little bit. Help yourself." She nodded to the sideboard which held different fruits and cereals.

"Thanks." B'Elanna took a few pieces of fruit, not much of an early morning eater, and then sat down with Moira.

"Do you love him?"

The question caused B'Elanna to drop the strawberry she was about to bite into. Her head snapped up to see if Moira was serious or just teasing her. "Yes, I do." She finally answered.

Moira nodded. "I think he loves you too."

"He does." She bit the end of the strawberry, hard.

"Tom hasn't fallen in love since Odile." Moira glanced up at her suddenly. "Did he tell you about her?"

"Yes." Images of the Subu prison camp where many of the crew-- including her-- had shared their life story flooded her mind. She may have told Moira about that ordeal, it hadn't been mentioned last night, but a sudden beep in the communications systems interrupted them.

"I've got it!" Moira jumped up, a blush flooding her cheeks.

B'Elanna tried to hide a smile. Moira was expecting a certain young man to call with a job opportunity today and was obviously very excited.

A minute later, she returned with a sad look on her face. "It wasn't them. It was Daddy. He wants you to head over to his office after breakfast. Something about going over engine specifications for putting Voyager in the museum."

B'Elanna nodded quickly and stood. "Then I'd better head over right away. I'll see you later, Moira." Grabbing a few more grapes, she left the table and headed to the in-house transporter. By the time she stood at the admiral's office, she was done with the grapes and wondering exactly what was going on. Anyone could take care of engine specifications. Just because she was the best for the job didn't mean Starfleet would listen to her.

"Miss Torres. Thank you for coming. Sit. Sit." Admiral Paris gestured to the chair quickly as he wandered around his room. "I'm sure you know that I haven't called you here for simple engine specs."

She nodded once, still standing. "I had assumed that, sir."

"Well, fact of the matter is, Tom and I had a long talk last night." Owen stopped and looked over his wall of Starfleet Paris'. "He doesn't' think you're the right girl for him."

B'Elanna felt as though all of the oxygen in her lungs had been pounded out. "Tom said that?" she asked in bewilderment. That wasn't true! Her Tom would never say that!

"Not at first," Owen admitted. "But after we talked for awhile and he began to think of other girls he'd like to rekindle friendships with, he thought it would be best if you two spilt up."

"You're lying." Her voice was very low and threatening. So what if this man was an admiral. Right now, he was a liar.

"I know he wasn't at home when you woke up, B'Elanna. He's in France visiting Odile's cousin, Merie. He couldn't face you and asked me to give you this."

She eyed the tiny crystal chip in his hand before hesitantly reaching out to claim it.

"You can view it from my console if you wish."

B'Elanna strode to the other side of the desk and pushed the chip inside.

"Audio only." The computer told her.

"Proceed." She said the words just as the admiral opened his mouth to speak them.

"B'Ela." Tom's voice filled the room. "I know that what I'm about to say will come as a shock to you, but I truly feel that this is the only way.

"While we were out in the Delta Quadrant, I felt our relationship was ok to continue with. There really wasn't too much chance or hope that we'd reach home before we died. And I could live with that. It was because I knew I probably wouldn't survive the next year that I felt a relationship with you was feasible.

"But, now we're home. I have to face the music and realize that I'm not the only one here now. There's more than just your or I in our relationship. There are both of our families to be considered. I have talked at great length with my father, and I've decided that bringing a half-Klingon bride home is unacceptable. I'm sorry. But that's how it must be. Good bye."

B'Elanna stared in shock at the console. Bringing her eyes up to look at the admiral, she found him bestowing his prideful gaze on a row of smiling Starfleet officers framed in gold. Parises on Vulcan. Parises on Mars. Parises at the signing of the Cardassian Peace Treaty. And, the most recent, Owen Paris hugging his son for the first time in eight years.

"Oh, I understand perfectly. I'm not good enough for your little family." She pushed out of the chair and stood to her full height of barely over five feet and glared at him.

"Now, Miss Torres, you know that's not true." Owen turned around slowly. "You're just not the right type of person.:

"Because I'm part Klingon." She seethed. "I'm sorry, Admiral, that I wasn't born perfect like you. I'm not full human and I don't regret it." It was a lie. She would have done anything to be full human, but surely couldn't tell him that!

"B'Elanna please, this has nothing to do with your heritage."

"It doesn't?" She took a menacing step forward. "I'm not the right 'type' for your precious son. Whom, I might add, you alienated yourself from until we returned and were in the lime light."

"The fact that your ancestry is different from ours is not the problem." Owen glared at the younger woman. "It's the fact that your ancestors are known for their violence. I don't want my grandchildren raised around that unnecessary evil."

"Unnecessary evil?! Violent!? I'll have to you know that my mother raised me with Klingon traditions of having honor, not all of it is violent. And who was it that said I clung to the traditions anyways?"

"There's no need for bad blood to come between us." Owen splayed his hands over the desk. "I think that a post can be arranged so you can finish your Starfleet training."

"No. I don't ever want to see Starfleet again if this is what you're all like." Spinning on her heel, B'Elanna Torres marched out the door, past the secretary, and out of HQ forever.

Pushing the tears deep inside of her, she made her way to a small coffee house that had been there since her days of the Academy. There was a booth in the back, kind of off in a dark corner, it had been her favorite place to hide from the other students. Now, she made her way back there and dropped into the familiar old seat.

Bowing her head down, B'Elanna allowed her hair to cover her face as tears of humiliation slid over her brown cheeks. Prejudice. It was thought to be as outdated as the airplane, but apparently it was still very much alive in some.

"B'Elanna? B'Elanna Torres?"

She lifted her head at the insistence of a man who stood in front of her. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place his blond hair and the smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose.

"It's me. James Chesney."

A look of surprise mixed with shock finally registered over her features. "James.." Instantly, she remembered the good friend she had drifted from as they both chose their separate paths of life so long ago. She stared at him in wonder. Realizing what an idiot she must look like, she gestured to the seat across from her. "Have a seat."

He did. "What's wrong?"

She wiped at her eyes and cheeks furiously as though by getting rid of the tears would remove the memory from James' mind. "Nothing."

"You never cried easily, B'Elanna." He flagged down a waitress and ordered a cup of coffee for them both. "Tell me about it."

"It's just Starfleet."

Gray eyes instantly clouded over. "Had a run in with them?"

"Not them, one admiral."

"Who?"

"Owen Paris." She sighed and looked down at her hands. "Apparently, he's got some prejudices about Klingons."

"Admirals' opinions never bothered you before. Why now?"

"I never was in love with their sons before."

"In love?!" James leaned forward. "With Tom Paris? I've heard he quite a ladies man. Scoundrel in my opinion."

"Hey! Watch what you say about him!"

"Or I might end up flat on my stomach with an angry warrior pinning my arms to my back again." He laughed at the memory. "I was such an idiot!"

"Yes, you were." Her own brown eyes twinkled at the memory.

James studied the soft linen napkin in his hands. "Tell me about it."

B'Elanna hesitated. Tell James about Tom? Well, why not? "We first met when I was in the Maquis. I was sullen and angry and he seemed determined to bait me every chance he got." Accepting a cup of coffee from the waitress, she continued and told James about their relationship from the time Tom had saved her life on the small planet in the Badlands until the previous few minutes she had spent in Owen Paris' office.

Two cups of coffee and a pastry later, she finished the story. James hadn't made any comments save to clarify something. He leaned back and looked at her for a long moment.

"B'Elanna, if I'm being presumptuous, just tell me." He interrupted himself with a short laugh. "Nevermind, I know you will." Both smiled at that. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "You've been away from the Alpha Quadrant for quite awhile and, it seems to me, you're not sure exactly where to go. You'll visit your mother, I'm sure. But after that, do you have plans?"

"I-..not really."

He nodded. "I couldn't help but hear through the rumor mills on Nessik about how much good you did for the Maquis as an engineer. And, you've proven yourself by serving as Voyager's chief engineer for eight years. I was wondering if you'd join a small crew of merchants who are in need of an engineer." He pulled a padd from his jacket. "I've joined them as their spokesperson. Call me Ambassador James if you like. Basically, our ship hauls goods from one planet to another so the different aliens may have trade relations with one another. It's all legal and actually a good way to come by money. You can drop out at nearly anytime, just give us a bit of a warning. And, until you decide exactly where you want to go, you'd be safe and not wandering."

B'Elanna swirled the contents of her cup. The coffee, black as coal dust, was now cold. Captain Janeway would be ashamed of her for not finishing it, she thought with a wry smile. Looking back up at James, she quickly brought back to mind the issue at hand. What did she have to lose? He'd said it didn't have to be permanent. It was legal. And she would be back around engines. Lifting her chin, she nodded firmly. "Count me in."

"Your record of service for the past five years on Voyager is quite astounding." Admiral Rayburn began as she rounded the corner of her desk. "However, you were never enrolled at the Academy. You never took the required classes or passed the required examinations as the rest of our officers have. To allow you to enter Starfleet without those qualifications would be negligent on our part. We must insist that you complete the required course work before being given a post."

"Locutos, known to you as Jean-Luc Picard, went through the Academy. All of his knowledge and skills were incorporated into the Collective. So, I have taken the courses-- through him."

Rayburn drew in a deep breath. "You, Annika Hanson, have not been enrolled in the classes. You,, yourself, must complete them. Not work through someone else."

Seven cocked her head to the side. "What is the purpose of assigning me to classes which I already know all the required material?"

"If nothing else, you'll learn how to interact with other members of Starfleet." Rayburn was beginning to lose her temper with the former Borg. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but after the Federation council had selected her to act as advisor to the young woman, she'd had some serious qualms. The majority were due to the fact that Annika had once been part of the Collective which was still attempting to overtake the Alpha Quadrant.

Seven looked down at her hands. "I have served on Voyager for over five years. I wish to continue serving on a star ship. If I must go through these irrelevant motions, then I shall. And I'll graduate a year before you expect me to."

"'Early graduations are highly discouraged."

"Irrelevant. I have gone over the courses which I will be required to take. I can do it in two and a half, but to please you, I shall extend it to three."

Rayburn pursed her lips. "We'll see." Was all she said before handing Seven a slip of paper. "Here's your room assignment, Cadet Hanson. Your prep squad officer will be Lieutenant Nimembeh."

Seven's head jerked up at the mention of the name. "I was under the impression that it was Commander."

"Commander Nimembeh is the Lieutenant's father. You'll find his daughter is very much like him though."

Seven stumbled into her quarters four days later. Yes, Lieutenant Nimembeh was very much like what Harry and Chakotay had described her father as. Seven could personally attest to that after running ten laps around the track-- in full uniform. Even her superior Borg strength hadn't helped her this time.

Gasping for a full breath of air in this slightly thicker atmosphere, Seven dropped to her bed and allowed her sweat to roll off her face in little droplets. She ignored the other girls who were running in and out of her room to shout and giggle with her room mate, Julie Henderson.

Suddenly, a fluffy white towel hit her arm. "Get up and quit being a wimp."

Seven's blue eyes flashed in anger as her head snapped up. K'Ratacha Nowak stood before her. Seven stood to her full height, which was just a few inches shorter than the Klingon. "You will not throw things at me, Cadet." She said in a low voice. "Tossing objects at one is irrelevant and unnecessary."

"Irrelevant?" K'Ratacha laughed, a grating sound that made Seven's skin want to crawl. "I don't think so, Miss Borg." She snatched the towel from Seven. "You spend way too much time wallowing in self pity. Maybe you think you're better than all of us, but guess what. You're not."

Seven leaned toward the girl menacingly. "You are jealous because while you were still laboring over high school lessons, I was serving on a Starfleet vessel."

"Think I'm jealous because you were assimilated?" She laughed again. "I don't think so, Borg." She turned to the small group who had gathered. "Come on. Let's leave this one alone."

After they'd left, Seven lay back down on her bed. K'Ratacha had been picking on her and tossing snide remarks her way for the past four days. How would she endure the next four years?

Two months later, Seven sat at a long table in the mess hall by herself. She was concentrating on the data padd at hand as she ate the Bolian surcas.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"The seat is not taken." She said without looking up as someone dropped a stack of padds on the table with their lunch.

A hand reached over and plucked the data padd from her grasp. "Atomic Chemistry."

She finally looked up and into the laughing eyes of Manolo Ferdanaz.

"I'm in your class."

"I know. You were also in my survival team." She was instantly reminded of Lieutenant Nimembeh glaring at the three cadets who had finally walked in-- after a shouting match and division with the rest of their group. "You are Manolo Ferdanaz."

"Nice to see you again too, Cadet Annika Hanson." He reached over and plucked her hand off the napkin where it was resting so he could shake it. "I do believe you're the one with the highest grade in the class. Right?"

Seven resumed eating. "Your assumption is correct."

"Then, you're the perfect one for me to come to." Manolo pulled a padd out of the stack. "See, I'm having trouble understanding some of this stuff." He rolled his eyes. "Hydrogen bonding and the -ates and -ites are driving me crazy. I was wondering if you'd help me."

Seven regarded him closely for a moment. "If you are willing to put in the time and effort, I will."

"Great!" Manolo grinned widely. "When?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. One hour before class. I will meet you in the study hall."

"I'll be there." He smiled again and grew silent for a minute. "What was it like?"

Seven's head snapped up. "Clarify your question."

"What was it like being with the Borg? And being out in the Delta Quadrant, so far from the Federation."

"The Collective was what I grew up with. After the initial fear of being assimilated, I grew to know it and be comfortable with it. Being in the Delta Quadrant, as part of Voyager's crew was the best thing that ever happened to me. They taught me to be human again and they were my family."

Manolo nodded slightly, as though he understood. He would have asked more questions, but the bell rang signifying the end of their lunch hour.

"See you tomorrow afternoon.

Seven shuffled the padds in her arms as she walked down the coorider of the Academy. Ahead of her, a Starfleet uniformed officer walked out of an ajoining hallway. Something about the gait of the officer made Seven peer closer.

Her heart jumped in her throat with the realization that it was Harry. Quickening her step, she came to walk along side her old friend.

"Seven!" Harry dropped the padd he was carrying and stopped in his tracks. Taking a deep breath, he let it out in a huff. "Whew! You scared me."

"I am sorry, Ensign."

"It's ok. I was deep in thought."

"Deep in thought? That phrase is not logical."

Harry grinned at her as he picked up the padd. "I knew they couldn't get rid of that Borg humor you're so well known for," he said dropping a kiss on her cheek. "How have you been anyways?"

"I am having a difficult time adjusting to the life of a student and not a worker." She answered and continued their walk.

"Student?" He caught her by the elbow and stopped her. "I'm sorry. Going from an officer back to a cadet again must be hard."

Clear blue eyes met beautiful Asian brown ones. "I do not enjoy being spoken to as though I have never been on a ship before. I will adapt."

"Adapt my foot." Harry muttered catching up with her. "You're more likely to be correcting the teacher."

Seven merely raised her eyebrow at him.

"Let me buy you dinner." Harry said suddenly.

"For what purpose?"

"Because you're my friend."

Seven's heart fluttered in her stomach. What were these odd feelings for?, she wondered. But, she did enjoy Ensign Kim's company. "If you like."

Seven pecked another equation into the padd and began to balance it. She had completed the assigned work, and was now working on advanced problems. Advanced to most students, that is. She was able to glance at it and know the answer almost instantly.

Manolo stood across the room watching her. Her uniform was crisp and neat, every strand of blond hair was in place. Taking a deep breath, he strode over to her. "Hey."

She glanced up quickly. "Good afternoon. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yep." Manolo set his books on the table and reached for the padd she had been working on. "Are you going out for the engineering track or something?"

"I am." She retrieved the data padd and pulled one of his texts towards her. "What are you struggling with?"

"I don't know." He admitted with a sigh. "I'm going for communications and won't have to know this depth of chemistry."

Seven raised the Borg implant over her eyebrow. "This is not very deep. This is simply naming the compounds."

"I still don't get it." He pulled up a simple assignment that was supposed to be done for class that day. "Look at this. NO. Nitrogen Monoxide. I can understand that one. But it's when I get to the percholric acid and iron (II) sulfates that I have trouble. There are too many formulas."

"Have you memorized the six basic rules of nomenclature?"

"I...I think so." He shook his head. "I've memorized so much stuff, it's getting hard to keep track." Dimples flashed at Seven.

She pulled another lesson up on the padd and began to go over the work. An hour later the bell rang signaling for them to go to class.

Manolo still sat after Seven stood. His head was bent over a problem, a lock of dark brown hair falling into his eyes. Suddenly, he jumped up. "Magnesium perchlorate!"

Seven leaned over and peered at the padd.

Manolo's eyes rested on her slim frame and blond hair. She really was a beauty, he thought to himself. And, since he'd entered the Academy later than most, she was only two years older than him. Annika didn't date much, or so he'd been told. She didn't do much of anything with other students, preferring to keep to those already in Starfleet. Briefly, Manolo wondered if she'd date him.

"Correct."

Manolo shook himself from his dream and grinned at her. "Thanks Annika. Let's get to class and see how I do on this quiz."

Three weeks later, Seven sat on a bench outside the conservatory, physics padd in hand, as she reviewed her lesson. The first few weeks at the Academy had proven to be extremley hot and uncomfortable, but now autumn was moving in and the days were cooling off enough to spend time outside-- a pastime Seven found she enjoyed immensly.

A large hand suddenly clasped her shoulder causing her to glance up startled. "Harry!" She stood up quickly and allowed him to bursh a kiss over her cheek before returning to her seat. "How are you doing?" She asked the man who had been at the Academy almost every day since their dinner 'date.'

"Great. I'll be better once you agree to come home with me this weekend."

Seven looked up sharply. "Go to your home?"

"Sure. My parents have moved to an apartment in New York, but I found out that they're having a small family reunion of sorts on the coast of Massachuttes this weekend." He glanced down at his hands, "I was hoping you'd come with me."

Seven hesitated for a moment. Go home with him? Meet his family? According to Terran history, that was what was done before a couple entered into a marriage. "Are you going to ask me to marry you?"

Harry drew in a sharp breath in shock as his face turned a flaming red. "Seven!" She didn't say anything but simply continued to stare at him. Harry visibly squirmed for a moment trying to come to grips with what she had just asked him. Glancing up, he found her still watching him. "I guess I should be completely honest." He began. "The idea has certainly crossed my mind over the past few years, however; I don't want to rush you into anything. Right now, our relationship is probably not ready for marriage, though I do hope that in a few months we are."

Seven cocked her head to the side. "I will go to this family reunion with you."

"Can you believe it!?"

Seven winced and forced herself to not cover her ears as K'Ratacha blew through the dorm rooms.

"I asked him to have lunch with me! And he said he's busy!" She stopped just inside the door to glare at Julie.

"Who?" Julie asked.

"Manolo Ferdanaz." She nearly growled.

"Maybe he had to study for a test or something." Julie pointed out.

"Yeah. Maybe that was it." K'Ratacha agreed. "I'll ask him to go down to Rixon with me tomorrow afternoon. Before his chemistry class."

"He's busy."

Both girls turned to stare at Seven.

"What do you mean?" K'Ratacha's voice lowered again.

"I am tutoring him for chemistry." Seven replied without looking up as she paged down on her micronuclear physics padd.

"You're tutoring him?? That's why he couldn't come to lunch with me?" K'Ratacha glared at Seven. "Look here, Miss Borg. I met Manolo last year on Riza. He and I were interested in one another then. And you weren't in the picture. You stay out of it now."

Seven eyed the Klingon for a minute. "Your anger is unjustified. I have given no indication that I have any feelings for him, yet you accuse me of just that. I am tutoring him, and you are being unreasonable."

"Don't patronize me." K'Ratacha glared. "Just stay out of the picture."

"Ready?"

"I arrived at the appointed time. Do you question my actions?"

Harry fought the urge to laugh at her. Taking the standard Starfleet case from her hands, they stepped onto the transporters and awaited the slight tingling sensation that would occur before they found themselves across the country.

The instant Seven materialized, she was aware of a slightly different smell. The Academy and Starfleet headquarters had not smelled of anything, Seven had become accustomed to it. Here, there was a faint taste of salt in the air.

"It's from the ocean." Harry said notincing her upturned nose. "We're right on the coast." True to his word, once they were outside the building all Seven could see in the east was a stretched of water. Above them, sea gulls cried. A few meters down the road, sand met the pavement.

"It creates a heightened sense of emotions."

Harry snorted. "It's beautiful."

"Harry!!!"

They were interrupted with the shouts of children of various ages running towards them. Seven tried to take a step back, but was prevented by Harry's arm firmly around her waist. "Don't disappear on me." He whispered with a smile just before a girl of about twelve flung herself in his arms.

"Harry!" She shouted in his ear.

"Melanie!" He gave her a quick hug before greeting his other family members. Quickly he introduced Seven to the children and then went towards a large, rambling, beach house.

"This place has been in the family for years." Harry and Seven brought up the end of the trail of children as they ran to the house. "I think my grandfather's ancestors back in the nineteenth century built it. Of course," he hurried on. "We've made modifications. Electricity in the twentieth century. Solar heating in the twenty first. Replicators were added in last century."

"It is an exquist peice of architecture."

Harry laughed out loud at her. "Seven, thank you!" He gasped clutching his sides.

"I fail to see what you are thanking me for."

"You keep me laughing." He leaned over closer to her so only she could hear his words as the family surrounded them. "And I love that."

"Are you going to marry Uncle Harry?"

Seven started incrediously at the young child before her. What was his name? Miki? Mickey? Mika?

"Mikial, don't be rude." A slender woman of about twenty four pushed the child away. "Go outside and play with Peter." As the youngster scampered off, the woman turned to Seven. "I'm sorry about that. He's one Aunt Heather has been having trouble with. Actually," The woman bit her lip. "She pretty much has trouble with both of them."

At Seven's bewildered and confused visage, Anna suddenly remembered who she was talking to. "Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Anna. I was in the kitchen when Grandpa led you through. That was Mikial, my Aunt Heather and Uncle James' child. Their other girl is Jo, short for Joesphine, who is a tomboy and gets into more mischief than I did at her age-- and that's quite a bit to top." Anna's brown eyes sparkled with laughter.

"I am sorry. I am unable to remember all the names and faces which I should be familiar with."

"It's ok." Anna laid a hand on Seven's arm, a slight twinkle in her eye. "Harry will be glad to answer any questions you have." She cast a glance over her shoulder. "Tell me, how did you manage to catch Harry? He has only been interested in one girl that I've ever known of. Of course, that was before he left for Starfleet."

"I did not 'catch' Ensign Kim." Seven stated. "He--"

"Caught you?" Anna giggled as many of the cadets did. "I bet he did!"

Seven looked around the room for help. Harry was talking with his father and Uncle Roger, Anna's father. At that moment, he seemed to feel Seven's eyes calling for help. Glancing up, he motioned for her to join him on the sofa.

"Excuse me," Seven slipped away from the gossipy girl and towards the safe haven of Harry's side.

"So, have you two decided on a date?"

Seven drew in a sharp breath and cast a glance at Harry.

Harry didn't dare look at the woman beside him. "Of course, Father." He replied, his voice not betraying a hint of humor. "The next time we're in the Delat Quadrant."

It was early morning as Seven slipped out of her bed room. She had doned on a pair of sweats and now padded in her socks downstairs to the outside porch.

"Come to see the sun rise? I knew you wouldn't be able to resist." Harry grinned at her as she stepped outside into the frosty morning air.

"I have been told that this is not an experience to be missed." She retorted leaning against the rail.

"The sunrise is beautiful." He agreeed, "But there's something more I wouldn't want to miss. Take off your socks." Harry was bent over peeling off his own socks and wiggling brown toes at her.

"Excuse me?"

"We've got to go for a run in the sand." He insisted. "It's going to be freezing this time of year, but you'll love it!"

Seven hesitantly pulled her socks off and then set her feet down on the deck. It was freezing! The air was only about fifteen degrees and the lifeless deck made it seem much cooler.

"Let's go!" Harry had grabbed her hand and was dragging her down the expanse of the beach towards the water edge. Still clasping her hand tightly in hers, they began to jog down the beach. Water on their left, land on their right.

Seven breathed in deep gulps of fresh air as her feet pounded on the wet sand. Eeeeeek!!! She let out a little squeel of excitement as the water rushed over her bare toes and then pulled the sand over them again. Splash. Splash. Splash. Squish. Squish. Slap. Slap. Her feet hit the sand hard as she continued to run hand in hand along the beach. The wind caught her carefully groomed hair and pulled it free of the braid she had plaited it in. Now, it tumbled down around her ears and blew over her shoulders in a golden cloud.

"Where are we going?" Seven shouted over the wind to her partner.

"There's a lighthouse up here." Harry answered. "I always went there when I was a kid."

Indeed, there was a light house-- in the far distance. As they drew closer to it, she could see the that the smooth sand turned into a rocky beach with small boulders jutting out of the ocean.

Harry helped Seven climb onto one of the massive stones and then pushed his hair out of the way. "Isn't it the best?"

Seven looked around herself. The waves crashed against the rocks further out and then rushed in to swirl around their rock. The air was frosty and their breaths made tiny puffs in it. The sun was just rising over the ocean creating a tranquil setting as gold and pink splashed across the blue water.

"It it pleasing to the eye."

Harry turned to her, agast. "That's the closest you've ever come to saying something is beautiful!" He slid over by her and wrapped an arm around her back so she could lean into him.

"Beauty is-"

"No. It's not irrelevant." Harry pulled her into his embrace and breathed in the scent of her hair. "Seven, look around you. Have you enjoyed this morning?"

Seven didn't answer for a moment, but snuggled closer to him. "Yes, I have."

"Would you have enjoyed it as much if it had taken place in the middle of a city, with people rushing around us and a stench of one of those old fashioned cars about us?"

"No."

"See there?"

"Do I see what?"

"You wouldn't have enoyed it as much, therefore; beauty is relevant."

"Peace is relevant. Company is relevant. I would have enjoyed the day as much if we had been isoloated in a small room with only each other for company."

Harry looked down at the woman in his arms. "Really Seven? You really feel like that?"

She pulled back to look at him. "I would not have said it if I did not."

Harry's hands came up to trace the outline of her chin as he placed the other on the back of her neck and pulled her closer to him. "Seven?..."

Bright blue eyes were filled with an emotion Seven had never fully experienced. "Yes?..."

Harry's mouth was hardly a breath away from hers. "I love you," he whispered before brushing her lips with his. A moment later, both pulled back.

Harry was reeling from the emotions she had evoked from him. He had fully expected her to break out of his arms before he ever had the chance to kiss her, and now that she hadn't, he was left staring at her like an idiot. He felt like the cat that'd caught the canary-- and didn't know what to do next.

Seven eased herself out of his arms. Her stomach had ceased to feel as if it was flipping over and now she merely felt light headed and dizzy. Probably from lack of nutrition- she mused. She had not eaten a morning meal yet.

Seven glanced nervously at the ocean. She hadn't been around it for more than a day, but even she could tell that a storm was brewing and it was going to be a bad one. The wind whipped around her, the air was filled with a slight electrical charge. She wrapped the jacket more tightly around her small frame and continued her trek back to the main cabin.

"Seven!"

Her head jerked up at her name. Harry was jogging down the shoreline to her.

"Hello, Harry."

"Where have you been?" he demanded wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"I was at the lighthouse again."

"Please, don't ever scare me like that again!" He held her close for a moment longer. "I couldn't find you and didn't know what had happened."

"I apoligize. I will remember to tell you before I leave by myself again."

"It's ok. I just don't want anything to happen to you." He explained slipping an arm around her waist. "Let's get going. A storm is coming and it's going to be a whopper."

"Agreed." Seven bent her head over and walked along side Harry who still had his arm securly fastened around her waist. For some unknown reason, she felt a surge of pleasure course through her heart at his nearness.

"Look." He stopped suddenly and turned them towards the ocean. Clouds rolled over one another and lightening danced between them. Sometimes, the lightening shot down and connected with the water in a brilliant flash. The water itself was churning and bubbling. Waves crashed over each other in a fight to make it to the shore.

Seven jumped at another crack of thunder. "I fail to see what I am looking at." She informed him as the wind tore at their clothing and hair.

Harry stepped closer to her so his mouth was beside her ear. "Think of it, Seven. Five hundred years ago, people took to those waters willingly with no idea of what might happen."

He paused for a moment in awe as he brushed her cheek with his own. She felt a shiver run the legnth of her spine. Nothing uncomfortable, just different.

"They eagerly joined a journey to the 'new world' which could have easily tossed a storm like this in the way that would have plunged them to the ocean floor. I find it facinating and extremely brave of them."

"I find it incredibly stupid."

Harry snorted in laughter at her. "To each his-- or her-- own opinion."

"And, I find it incredibly stupid for us to continue standing out here."

"Just a minute longer." Harry continued to gaze at the ocean as lightening cracked around them.

"No." Seven stepped out of his embrace and looked to the house. "We need to get inside."

Harry glanced at her. There was fear in her voice. Something he had only been witness to a few times. "You're frightened, aren't you?"

"I am Borg. Borg are not frightened." Another bolt of lightening sliced through the sky as the air around them vibrated with the rumble. Seven nearly jumped two feet.

"You're not Borg anymore."

"Then I have no reason to be embarrassed." She took a shakey breath and glanced around as the electricity danced overhead. "I'm terrified."

Harry spied his prey sitting on a bench, much like he'd found her a few weeks ago. This time, he snuck up behind her and leaned down to her ear, "Hey, Beautiful."

Seven started and whirled around before jumping up. "Don't do that!" She exclaimed, with mock anger.

"Sorry." Harry grinned back and took a step towards her.

Seven neatly side stepped his advance with a smirk of her own. "Nope."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Yes." He said with a mischivious glint in his eyes.

She merely raised the Borg implant over her eye at him.

"Come here, Seven of Nine."

"If I was that compliant, Voyager would have assimilated my entire junction."

Harry burst out laughing.

Seven, thinking she was free tentativly smiled at him.

Suddenly, she wasn't smiling, but was staring in shock that Harry had been able to laugh at her, grin at her, and give her a quick kiss within a few seconds. He had acted so fast, she hadn't been able to counter react.

"Gotcha."

"You did and you have." She blushed at the loving look Harry bestowed on her.

"Hello Seven. I know you're busy at the Academy, but I wanted to see how you were doing. I remember my days there were some of the best, although I was impatient to gain my first posting-- as I'm sure you are.

"This message is not just to say hi and that sort of thing. I'd like to invite you to my wedding. Commander Justin Tighe and I have decided to get married the seventh of November and we'd like for you to come. Send me a subspace message if you can. I'll look forward to getting the message from you."

Seven closed down the comm signal and pondered the thought for a moment. Captain--no, those were admiral level pips attached to her collar-- Admiral Kathryn Janeway was going to get married. And it wasn't to Chakotay. At first, Seven had been surprised, but now she was gradually becoming accustomed to the idea. She briefly wondered how Chakotay felt though.BR>

"Annika! Annika! Wait up!!!"

Seven turned at the shout and watched as Manolo exploded through a crowd of people. Opening his arms wide, he swept her into a bear hug and planted a firm kiss on her cheek.

"You're the greatest! Thank you so much!"

Still bewildered at the sudden affection, Seven stared at him in confusion. "I'm sorry, Cadet. I don't know what you're referring to."

The most recent chemistry quiz was shoved into her hands. "I got a 'B'! A 'B'!!!"

She regarded it carefully. "You did much better than you were before we began." She handed it back to him. "Congratulations."

"Thanks." Grinning, he threw an arm around her shoulders and continued down the hall with her. "How about we celebrate? Even you have to eat sometimes. Dinner at Rixon."

K'Ratacha passed them just then. Seven caught her eye knowing she must have heard the invitation. It would serve K'Ratacha right if she accepted Manolo's invitation. But she couldn't. It would hurt Harry if he found out. Shrugging off his arm, Seven turned to face Manolo. "An improvement in one's grades is not a justifiable excuse for asking one to dinner. Besides, I have planned to take a light meal in my room while studying for micronuclear physics."

"Sorry." He felt like he'd been talked down to by his older sister. "Will you still keep tutoring me though? Please?"

She hesitated. "I will tutor you as long as you need help in this subject.

Harry fell into step beside Seven. "Who was that back there?"

"Who was who?"

"That man. I saw him kiss you. Why?"

"That was Manolo. I am tutoring him in chemistry." Seven eyed Harry curiously.

"I don't like him."

"Are you jealous of a cadet?" Seven shuffled her data padds to the other arm.

"Of course not!" He turned to face her. "I just don't like other guys kissing you."

"Harry, it was nothing more than a kiss to thank me for helping him. You have insufficient reason to be jealous."

"Helping him? How often do you spend time with him?" Harry pulled Seven aside to an empty coorider.

"Almost every afternoon before chemistry." She replied.

"Every after-" Harry interrupted himself. "Seven! You can't just do that to me!"

"What have I done?"

"Apparently that guy thinks you're available or something. If not, he wouldn't have kissed you. You must have done something to give him the idea that you were free."

"Am I not?"

He drew in a sharp breath. "I know we never talked about it. But, I kinda hoped we had established a relationship between us."

"If a 'relationship' means that I can not have friends and can not help others, I don't want a relationship." Seven snapped and turned to walk away, but Harry caught her arm.

"No you don't. Not that easily." He pushed her gently back towards the coorider.

"Ensign Kim. I was a member of the collective for the majority of my life-"

"What does that have to do with anything?!"

"They controlled every action of mine. Even my way of thinking. I do not wish to be subject to that tyranny again."

Harry's eyes opened wide. "You think I'm trying to control you?"

"You have excerized a behavior which leads me to believe that you may possibly try just that. I do not wish to run the risk of becoming a member of another 'collective' and will end this now.'"

"Are you saying, that everything we have between us means nothing to you and you're willing to drop it all?!"

Seven stared at him for a moment. Harry's brown eyes were filled with pain, a pain that caused Seven's belly to ache. Yet, it didnt' seem right for him to control her every movement. She had been forced to endure the collective's control on her and didn't want it to happen again. "I am. I believe it would be better if we saw less of each other, Ensign."

"Fine!" Harry took a step away from her and threw up his hands in discust. "If that's how you want it. We'll see less of each other. A lot less of each other, Seven, because we're through!"

Seven ignored Julie as she stepped across the threshold into her room.

"You have a message."

"Excuse me?"

"On the console." Julie pointed at the computer console in the corner of the room. "It's a subspace message."

"Thank you." Seven sat down at the terminal and quickly activated it. It was from Voyager. Only one person was still on board to her knowledge. It had to come from Sickbay. Disengaging the audio link, Seven allowed the Doctor's words to scroll across the screen as she quickly read them.

"Seven. I know you're busy with the Academy, but I was hoping I could get this message to you. It is imperative that you come back on board and retrieve a piece of technology that is essential to my existence. Starfleet has informed me that they are going to deactivate me and turn Voyager into a museum, and I don't want anything to happen to this piece of technology. They have chosen someone to run the museum, but I don't know who as of yet and don't want to risk it. Come quickly."

His holoemitter. The screen went blank as Seven pushed back from the console. A few buttons later, the message was encrypted to appear that it was never delivered as Seven was calmly walking down the halls to the transporter.

A very bored looking ensign was on duty. "Beam me to Voyager."

He snapped to attention and then looked over the older woman wearing a cadet's uniform. "You're giving me orders?" He scoffed.

Blue eyes turned to ice. "Yes. Do you have a problem with that, Ensign?"

"Yes, ma'am, I do. You don't have proper authority to request a transport."

"Is a transport to a vessel in space really that odd of a request?"

"You're asking to go to the new museum. There's no one on board. Why not just get in a shuttle and go to the visitors' station?"

Seven hesitated only a moment. Leaning into the boy's face, she demanded, "Do you see this metal star on my face? Do you know what it is?"

He tried to lean back and shake his head at the sudden anger pouring fourth from this woman.

"It's a Borg regeration node. Something is malfuntioning with it. If I don't get on Voyager and to the EMH, who happens to be the only doctor in the Alpha or Delta Quadrants who has successfully removed a permanent member from the collective-- me--, the star will regenerate and I'll become full Borg. Now, do you want to be responsible for the assimilation of Earth?"

The ensign shook his head with a frightened look. Three seconds later, Seven rematerialized on Voyager's transporter padd. Stepping down, she breathed the slightly thinner air gratefully. The extra spring in her step almost caused a smile to cross her features. Earth made her feel like she weighed a ton.

"Computer, activate EMH." Seven told the computer as she stepped into sickbay.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency." The Doctor turned. "Seven, thank goodness." He crossed over to his office and opened a drawer in his desk. Handing her the holoemitter he regarded her seriously. "This is the most precious piece of equipment I have. Please, guard it carefully."

"I will Doctor."

"Doctor! Seven!"

Startled, both turned to the doorway where Harry Kim was framed. He walked over to them and gave Seven a quick glare. "What are you doing here?"

"I was summoned by the Doctor's request, Ensign."

"Lieutenant." Harry proudly showed off the extra pip on his collar, while ignoring Seven. "I got promoted." His smile vanished. "Kinda. I should say, they promoted me as long as I agreed to take on the job of curator for our beloved museum." He glanced around sickbay. "Kinda sad that they won't use Voyager anymore..."

"You're the new warden?" The Doctor gave an over exaggerated sigh. "They don't tell me anything. I'm just the hologram. Who, I might add, they're turning off."

Harry frowned. "I've already talked to them concerning that. They're going to keep you on-line, and create holograms of the rest of the crew. Voyager is going to have holoemitters added to most of the rooms here and then people will be able to walk through and see our 'legendary' crew at work." Harry laughed. "I can't wait to come across my hologram."

Seven took a step towards the door. "If I am of no use up here, then I really should return to my quarters on Earth. I have to study for an exam in micronucluar physics tomorrow."

"You're studying for it?" Harry asked with a shake of his head. He loved the woman, the distance in their relationship didn't dull that. "You're one of our best engineers. If you can't pass it, then I really pity your classmates." Seven opened her mouth, but Harry beat her to it. "I know. I know. Pity is irrelevant."

Seven's brow furrowed. "No, Lieutenant. I was merely going to point out that though I have mastered the subject, there are certain things they require me to know that are not true and I must make sure to memorize them as the professor teaches it."

"Not true? Like what?"

She thought for a moment. "They haven't covered it, but it would be comparable to Starfleet telling us that the Omega partical is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. We know that it can be contained because we have done it."

The Doctor watched as Seven took his holoemitter safely back to Earth.

"I'll feel better with it not up here." He admitted to Kim.

"I can understand that." Harry leaned forward a bit. "With all of the brass that's going to be running around here, it's going to be a mad house."

At that moment, the doors swished open to reveal Admiral Owen Paris standing in the corridor. "Good day, gentlemen." He stepped inside and looked around. "So, this is where all of those aliens were treated."

"Yes, sir." Harry pointed to the surgical bed where a forcefield could be put in place. "We had a Hirogen over there for a few days. Seven, while still Borg, was over on that biobed there. An invisible alien was over there. Actually, we had some aliens from the Demon planet masquerading as Tom and I behind that forcefield too." He paused. "Come to think of it, we had Neelix there for a few hours too.. right before he started a sing along."

The Doctor gave a snort of disgust. "That is one incident I'd prefer to not repeat."

Paris raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Do you have a data base of the information of these aliens who were treated?"

"It's been incorporated into our regular database." The Doctor stepped over to a console and tapped a few commands. "Computer, display records for Drickel of Alcawell."

Instantly, a visual representation of Drickel laying on the biobed came to the screen. Kim had never seen this alien-- he'd been getting into enough trouble on the planet. Now, he took the time to glance over the alien. Eight fingers, small pointed nose, smaller forehead, built as big and strong as a Klingon. Yep, he was normal of his people.

"You have a whole data base of this sort of thing?"

"Every alien we met. I have a visual representation and the person's name. If they were treated in sickbay, I also have information on their physiology."

"Good. Good." Paris wandered to the side. "We're going to set up more consoles over here so visitors can look up the information for themselves. We'll block off parts of sickbay and have dramas being played out. Stuff that's probably routine to you. Like saving the life of an alien."

"Restricted access on those consoles, I hope." The Doctor said. "Guests should not be able to access a patient's name. And certainly not any of my crew's records."

"Of course not any of Voyager's crew records. But we will include the alien's name. It's the best way to learn."

"By exploiting them?" The Doctor turned and jabbed a finger at his console. "Computer, display records for species Hirogen and Kazon-Ogla." As the data appeared, the Doctor continued. "Admiral, these two races here are bent on exploration. They will explore and take over. Having a circus show with them as the entertainers is not wise. When they finally do get here, they'll be angry." He glared at the admiral before muttering to Harry. "The Hirogens turned this place into one big holodeck once, now Starfleet wants to finish the task."

"You are only a hologram. You do not know what it is to run a museum and you're going to learn. Though, I can see that after being in charge of sickbay for over eight years, you've grown accustomed to having your way. I'm going to discuss it with the council to delete your program and run the EMH1 from square one. Brand new doctor who knows his duty-- provide a drama for the tourists."

The Doctor opened his mouth to protest, but the Admiral was already out the door and stalking down the corridors. Harry and the Doctor exchanged fearful glances.

"Captain? Captain?"

"This is simply not the Lieutenant." The Doctor knocked on the forehead of Starfleet's newest hologram-- Lieutenant Tom Paris. "Hello? Lieutenant? Anyone in there? Anyone who's got anything to say?"

"Captain?"

The Doctor turned with an exasperated look to Harry. "This hologram resembles the Lieutenant about as much as I do a Talaxian tomato." He cast a withering glance over his shoulder. "If anything, he resembles the Commander more."

"Captain?"

Harry held back a snort of laughter. "They assure me they're working on it." He tried to comfort the Doctor.

"Captain?"

"Computer, deactivate Paris, Lieutenant."

"Well, they need to do a better job." A light suddenly went on in the Doctor's eyes. "Ensign,..I mean Lieutenant, ..didn't you try to create a hologram of myself when you thought I was going to be lost in the message relay stations?"

"Well,..yeah....but that was....."

"A disaster. I know." At Harry's surprised glance, the Doctor added, "I do look into what files have been accessed in the medical facilities. The point is, if you could begin to create a double of each character, one that is more true to life, Starfleet would be forced to recognize your programming capabilities and allow you to create the rest of them."

"I don't know...Starfleet has pretty much taken over this whole project. They just want my face to guide people through it." Harry shifted as he tried to avoid the sticky situation. Starfleet would certainly not be pleased to learn he was counter-acting their actions. "I'd rather not get in trouble with their head people at this point."

"So, you're going to just sit by and watch them create characters like...like...like Paris!?"

Harry was never given the chance to answer as the doors to sickbay slid open and three admirals briskly strode in.

"Lieutenant Kim, I'd like you to meet Admirals Nimembeh and Baytree. Admirals, Lieutenant Kim. One of the survivors of the Voyager mission, and the tour guide for the museum." Owen Paris said taking a step towards the Doctor.

"You didn't accept that office job," Nimembeh gave a brief smile of approval as he referred to the job Harry had mentioned at his graduation ceremony, "I can see my work has paid off in you."

"Thank you, sir." Harry nodded quickly and then turned back to Paris.

"This is the hologram I mentioned." The Admiral walked slowly around the Doctor.

"I am not a piece of furniture to be put on display." The Doctor protested at their piercing gazes. "State the purpose of your being here."

"To determine if you shall remain as Voyager's chief medical officer or if we should reboot your program."

"Reboot my foot!" The Doctor angrily strode to his office, but turned around in the doorway. "I have faithfully served as Voyager's only medical officer for eight years. To reboot or delete me is to lose part of the ship. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." With a huff, the Doctor sat down at his desk and pulled his console towards him.

"Is he always like that?" Baytree asked.

Harry smiled. "Only when someone threatens his existence."

"Fine. Give this to him if you will." Paris handed Harry a padd. "See that his program is transported to holodeck seven tomorrow at 1400 hours. We're going to have a meeting with the council to debate whether he should be allowed to stay or not."

At promptly 1400 hours, the Doctor, Harry, and six other admirals met to discuss the fate of one holoprogram.

"The ship should be kept as intact as possible." Admiral Nenskiey murmured. "After all, we want to portray the journey as it was, not as we imagine it."

"That's another topic for discussion." Admiral Baytree protested. "There are those who want to make Voyager into a museum based on their imaginations of what it'd be like to be lost in space as opposed to what actually took place."

"Are you saying we should make this a museum without any excitement?" Admiral Paris demanded. "That'll sure bring the tourists in."

Harry had never seen anything like it. The six admirals spent the next ten minutes debating on what kind of a museum to have. He had always thought Starfleet was organized. But then again, even the most organized had differences of opinion once in awhile. When he thought they may finally get to the problem at hand, Admiral Levoriod stood.

"I know you want to know what will happen with your program, Doctor." Levoriod walked around the table. "I believe that all of us will be in agreement when we say that in order to portray the ship as it must be, we're going to turn off your program and integrate a newer version. This version will have your memories incorporated, but will also have another system added to make it a performer first, doctor second. This way, we'll have the added benefit of your knowledge, but the hologram will be able to complete the drama without losing his place."

"You mean Starfleet has just decided to turn my program off?" The Doctor rose indignantly.

"Yes." Admiral Paris stood up. "It will be retained in Voyager's data base, and if you're ever needed-- for instance, if a real emergency ever arose on the ship-- we could activate you."

"But, I--"

"The decision has been made."

"I didn't get a chance to--"

"Dismissed." All six admirals turned and walked out of the door leaving Harry and the Doctor staring at one another.

"Well, of all the nerve." The Doctor fumed and then turned to Harry. "I'm still going to the wedding though."

"Are you sure I'm not routed through engineering?"

Harry checked the holoemitter once more for the Doctor. "Yep. You're rerouted through sickbay's emergency energy supply. They'd have to blow up the ship to shut you down."

"Ok. Then I am ready."

A few moments later, Harry and the Doctor materialized on the Janeway's front lawn. The green grass spread out down to the lane that ended about a mile away. Large pink blossoms drifted lazily in the breeze on the lattice fences and arcs. Crowds spilled from the house to the porch to the lawn. Everyone from Voyager had been invited, in addition to the families. And, it seemed that every inch of the lawn was nearly covered with cameras and news reporters. An admirals' wedding was apparently worthy of intergalactic coverage.

"Harry!"

The new lieutenant turned to see Tom Paris running across the lawn at him. They collided in a bear hug and then quickly spilt apart with grins.

"How are you doing?" Tom slapped the Doctor on the back to which the hologram jumped slightly.

"I was better before you attempted to dislocate my shoulder." He answered.

"I can't dislocate your shoulder, you're a hologram."

"Unfortunately, your greetings aren't." The Doctor grumbled still rubbing his shoulder.

"What have you been up to, Tom?" Harry asked noticing that Tom was watching the guests arrive more than he was paying attention to the conversation.

"Not much of anything, really." Tom waved at Samantha Wildman and flashed a smile for a camera before turning back to the trio. "Just drifting really."

"How are you and B'Elanna?"

The older man's eyes instantly turned dark. "I don't want to talk about it. I think I see Tuvok over there. I'm going to go say hi to him." With a glare at Harry, he turned on his heel and stalked over to the Vulcan who was talking with Lieutenant Vorik.

"Sorry I asked." Harry muttered to himself.

An hour later, the Doctor stood from his white colored chair as Admiral Edward Janeway marched his daughter, Admiral Kathryn Janeway, down the aisle to her groom-- Commander Justin Tighe.

Her eyes seemed to linger on the row of senior officers more than any other row. Neelix grinned and nodded at her. His face beaming with happiness. Tuvok met her gaze straight and unwavering. Tom and Harry were next. Tom was beside an empty chair which he kept glancing at. Harry was grinning as wide as Neelix was. Seven sat beside Harry, though she kept edging away from him. Her dress was a light blue and she looked as though she felt out of place, but was pleased at the captain's marriage. The Doctor looked down at the chair directly to his right. Chakotay's. Janeway had been glancing furiously at that chair to see if it was occupied. The Doctor knew they cared for each other-- had since before New Earth. He was slightly surprised that the Commander had chosen to not attend the event.

"Do you, Commander Justin Tighe, take this woman to be your wedded wife? To have and to hold. To love and to cherish. In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. For better or worse. As long as you both shall live?"

Justin looked down at his bride. Kathryn's short hair rested just on her shoulders. The white veil was covering her face, but he could see down into her blue eyes pooled with tears and read the love she felt for him. "I do." He answered firmly.

"And do you, Admiral Kathryn Janeway, take this man to be your wedded husband? To have and to hold. To love and to cherish. In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. For better or worse. As long as you both shall live?"

Kathryn looked up into Justin's cobalt eyes. His jaw twitched slightly with emotions she saw emitting from his eyes. "I do." She answered huskily.

"The rings, please."

A small boy, Kathryn's nephew, stepped forward proudly. "Here they are! I knotted them on there for you so I wouldn't lose them!"

Everyone laughed gently as Justin worked to un-knot them. Determination spread over his features as he finally gave up and pulled the rings-- ribbons and all-- off the pillow.

"Repeat after me." The reverend smiled at the gold band with a white ribbon trailing from it.

"This ring...."

Kathryn didn't hear the words as Justin slid the small band on her finger. She stared at his face, his moving lips, his teary eyes. And then moved her eyes down to their entwined hands.

"Kathryn, repeat after me."

It was her turn. She slid the gold band onto Justin's fourth finger and repeated the words the reverend told her to, but she didn't' hear them. Her eyes were locked with his still.

"Then, by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may-"

The reverend shrugged with a smile as Justin and Kathryn beat him to it. Crewmembers of Voyager and family jumped up and were shouting and applauding as they continued to kiss. Finally, they broke apart to the gentle laughter of everyone around them.

"This seat taken?"

The Doctor and Seven broke off their conversation as Tom Paris set his plate down and joined them at the table.

"It is not." Seven replied taking a bite of potato salad and then wrinkling her nose. "This food is not replicated, correct?"

"Made from scratch, I heard the captain-- I mean admiral-- say." Harry took a heaping bite of the baked beans and then frowned. "I never could understand why some people refused to use replicators."

"Indeed." Tuvok took a hesitant sip of the iced tea. "Although, the beverage is not as austere to the taste buds."

Seven and Harry quickly reached for their glasses and took large gulps of the cool liquid.

"I'm sorry."

The foursome looked up into the laughing eyes of Kathryn Janeway-Tighe. "Mother insisted that we have real food here. Though," She leaned down and whispered to her old shipmates with a glint in her eyes. "I did manage to sneak a whole table of replicated food in." She grinned at them. "It's at the very end of the desert buffet."

Harry's rear end nearly flew off the bench as he grabbed his plate. "No offense to your mother, Admiral, but after nearly eight years of replicated food...."

"Eight years? I would have hoped you would have tried some of my cooking in that length of time!" A plate dropped onto the table as Neelix, dressed in his usual colorful outfit, glared at Kim.

"I...I...."

"It's ok, Mr. Kim." Neelix grinned at him suddenly and reached over to give him a quick hug. "I understand that a taste has to be developed for certain Delta Quadrant cuisine."

"Yeah." Harry mumbled and then scooted over to the buffet table of replicated food.

Kathryn squeezed herself onto the bench for a moment, her white gown taking up twice as much room as she normally would. "Has anyone seen Chakotay?" She inquired softly.

"I have not seen him nor Lieutenant Torres at this event." Tuvok replied.

The rest of the group agreed with nods of their heads and mouths full of tea.

Kathryn lowered her head and pretended to be studying the pattern on the table cloth. When she looked up, her lips were pressed together in a frown. "If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him and need to talk with him."

"Of course."

"No problem."

"I will be watching for him."

She nodded in thanks. "Well, you enjoy your meal. I've got to go greet more family and," Kathryn let out an over exaggerated sigh, "Reporters."

Everyone laughed (well, everyone except Seven and Tuvok), at her as she retreated to Justin's arm.

A long silence endured as the group continued to eat their food.

"Do you think she regrets her decision?" It was Harry who posed the question.

"Her decision?" Tuvok raised an eyebrow as he picked up the fork again.

"To marry Commander Tighe instead of Chakotay."

"The Captain is not a woman of regrets." Seven stated, meeting Harry's eyes cooly.

"Yeah..but..."

"I know what you mean." Tom plucked a pickle off of his plate. "She and Chakotay seemed to get along so well on the ship. It was like they were inseparable or something. When I saw that transmission, I honestly expected it was an invitation to their wedding instead of hers."

"I was not under the impression that the captain and commander were anything more than friends." Tuvok began setting his hamburger down. "Only that they created a well established command team and balanced each other well."

"Think of how well they could have balanced each other in a relationship." Tom smirked. "They were half in one without realizing it, I think."

"And what observations led to this conclusion?" Tuvok inquired.

Tom grinned out right as he wiped the butter and salt from the corn off his face. "Maybe their teasing?"

Harry nearly snorted his tea out his nose. "Like the on-going 'eloping' joke?"

"The one and only."

A small smile slipped over Seven's face. "But, if they were more than just friends, then why did the captain marry Tighe?"

"Maybe they didn't realize what the other means to them?" Neelix offered between bites of potato salad.

"I'll bet Chakotay knows" Harry jumped in. "And I'll bet that's why he didn't come."

"They would have made a better couple than her and this commander character." The Doctor stated.

"I concur." Seven stated simply. "Yet, it could be that we think like this because she and the commander were seen as a team for over eight years and they appeared to be suitably compatible for each other."

"Perhaps, something didn't work out between her and Chakotay." Neelix countered.

"Personally, I think this 'commander character' is all wrong for her." ." Tom said leaning forward to use a forkful of beans to point threateningly at Neelix. "Our first officer would have been a much better choice."

Plop-plop. Everyone did their best to hold in their laughter as-- much to the dismay of Tom Paris-- two beans slid off the end of his fork and hit the white table cloth. Splat. Plop. Splat. The rest of them fell.

Laughter bubbled out of Harry and Neelix, even Seven giggled. And Tuvok graced them all with a slight smile.

"There. That's the last subroutine." Harry picked up the microemitter and set it back in it's case. "I've got your entire program copied and hidden in the life support systems folders. Starfleet would have to open fourteen different programs to find it-- and that's if they chose the correct sublevels each time."

"Good." The Doctor looked up as Admiral Paris suddenly burst into Sickbay. "Can I help you, Admiral?"

Owen raised his chin slightly. "Computer, deactivate EMH."

Harry watched as the Doctor fizzled out of existence.

"Delete subroutines EMH1001 through EMH49K-alpha."

"Authorization required."

"Paris, Admiral Owen Q. Paris Beta-145."

Seconds ticked by. The computer whirled softly as Harry watched the display console delete the routines.

"Deletion complete."

Tuvok looked out of the window of the tiny shuttle that was dipping lower and lower into the atmosphere of the reddish colored planet. It had been too long. Much too long. Voyager had been home for a year, but this was the first opportunity he'd had to get back to his home planet. After the other crew members had left the ship, there had still be security logs to review-- eight years worth. Then, there was Kathryn Janeway's wedding. It seemed one thing after another had prevented him from returning to his family.

Tuvok stepped down from the transporter padd that had deposited him on Vulcan and to the waiting family before him.

"Welcome back." His youngest son, Elieth, greeted him.

"Thank you." Tuvok discreetly took a deep breath of the slightly drier and much warmer air on Vulcan. Earth was cool and moist in comparison, and he was glad to be back in his familiar homeland.

Before him stood a family that he knew was his, but a much older version of his children. His wife, T'Pel, had died three years ago to a plague that swept through Tendura IV where she was visiting their middle son's grave. Varith had died while serving Starfleet as a lieutenant during the Cardassian wars. Yet, here was his oldest son, Sek, with his wife, Lanil, and their five year old son, Mesnik. Elieth was not married, according to the last time Tuvok had spoken with him via subspace channels, he was studying to be a priest and master of the Vulcan arts. Asil, Tuvok's eighteen year old daughter, was on the edge of the group, eyes downcast as she studied the floor of Starfleet's Vulcan base. At the young age of nine when Tuvok had disappeared, she had grown up.

"It is good to be back." He finally said. The family broke up then for the journey back to their home. Elieth shyly came to sit beside his father for the transport.

"Father, after you left, mother took a new husband," He began, not quite how to broach the subject other than to leap head first into it. "They had a child together-- a girl-- and then Thesark disappeared after Mother's death leaving us with Juree. Asil has been taking care of the child, but she is becoming interested in Starfleet. I thought you should be warned."

Tuvok's placid face revealed nothing that would indicate that he was upset by the news. It was what he expected, to be honest, that T'Pel would take another husband. Though, he hadn't expected there to be any children after her first grandchild was born.

"Thank you, Elieth."

"Asil!!!"

Tuvok was stunned as he stepped into his home and found a four year old bundle of energy with long dark hair and beautiful dark skin rushing towards them. His daughter's face hinted at a smile as she knelt down to catch her small charge.

"Juree," she admonished, "What have I told you?"

Silky soft bangs fell over the little girl's eyes as she bowed her head. "To not run and shout in the house." She whispered.

"Correct. And why?"

"Because it is disrespectful to our elders." The girl cowered further under her long hair.

"Good." Asil stood, still holding the girl's hand as Juree hid behind her. "And now, I'd like you to meet one of your elders-- my father."

The little girl shyly peered upwards at the tall Vulcan man. "Is he my father too?" She inquired, her voice as soft as the wind's whisper.

"No." Asil pulled her from her hiding place. "Your father and our mother left at the same time."

"Oh."

"Come now. Let's get the midday meal for the family."

"I don't want to." Juree yanked her hand out of Asil. "I want to stay here."

"I'll watch her." Mesnik, trying to appear older than his five years, came forward and grabbed the girl's hand.

"No. I don't want you to watch me." Juree tried to pull her hand free but didn't succeed.

"I will watch them."

The adult's heads swiveled to stare at their father.

"Thank you, Father." Asil said as she and Lanil moved towards the kitchen.

Tuvok eyed the young children he had been left charge of as his two sons moved to the sitting area.

"I do not know you, yet you are my family." He said kneeling down to their level.

"I know you." Mesnik showed off a perfect row of white teeth. "You are grandpa."

"Yes, I am your grandfather." Juree was tugging insistently on his hand.

"Let's show him the fort!" She begged her older nephew, all bashfulness gone.

"We'll take the long way and show him the cliffs." Mesnik decided.

Tuvok enjoyed the walk with the children, though he wouldn't have admitted it. The scorching Vulcan sun beat down on them, warming their skin as they rounded where the cliffs he had climbed upon as a child jutted out. Mesnik walked solemnly by his grandfather and informed him of the things he was learning in school as Juree skipped ahead and collected a soggy handful of flowers- t'karath flowers to be exact.

They finally reached 'the fort', which was actually a cluster of boulders and sand protruding from the earth. Tuvok held back and gazed at it for a moment as he remembered his childhood days of playing amongst them. One of his friends, Vesvik, had been born on Earth and taught Tuvok and the other children how to play hide and seek. A wisp of a smile crossed Tuvok's eyes as he remembered all the hiding places this cluster held.

"This is our secret place." Juree informed the older Vulcan with a serious expression.

"It was my secret place too." Tuvok told her as he sat down on one of the boulders. "And my father's. And my sons'."

"My dad played here?" Mesnik knelt down and picked up a flat stone.

"Yes. With Varith and Elieth."

"I never met Varith."

"Neither did I." Juree clamored up the side of the stone and climbed into Tuvok's lap. "I was born after he died." She said as she rested her silky head against Tuvok's chest.

"Yes, you were."

"Grandpa, I will return shortly." Mesnik glanced toward another rock. "I left a data padd out here and must fetch it."

Tuvok hesitated. Was it safe to allow a child to wander in the small area by himself? Then, he wanted to laugh (curious, he thought to himself, a human emotion) at his trail of thoughts. He had been sneaking out here before he was Juree's age and never run into danger. But still... "Be careful. The stones can hide many enemies." Tuvok warned thinking of Terran's snakes and scorpions.

"I will." Mesnik trotted off, thankful to be free for a bit. He couldn't help but enjoy being able to run and play at his young age.

A sudden movement in Tuvok's arms reminded him of the small bundle who was growing tired.

"You were married to my mother." She worked her thumb in her small mouth.

Tuvok pulled it out. "Yes, I was."

"But, you're not my father." She glared at her thumb and wrapped it around his large finger as a soft breezed ruffled her silky locks.

"That is correct."

"I don't have a father." She suddenly turned and looked at Tuvok with her big brown eyes. "What do I call you?"

Tuvok stared, mesmerized by this child's large eyes. Pulling her hand from his grasp, she rested it on his chin. Tuvok felt a lump rise in his throat. "If you wish," He began and then stopped to swallow the lump which had risen, "You may call me 'Father'."

Crash!

"No! I won't! I won't!" Stomp. "I won't!"

Tuvok watched from his place in the door way as his adopted daughter stamped her small foot and folded her arms across her chest in defiance to her older sister.

"As you wish, Juree." Asil turned to the pile of broken glass lying on the floor at their feet. "Go to your room and work on your letters. You are to stay there until I come for you."

"I don't wanna!" The small foot came down again, this time on Asil's hand.

Asil bit her lip as a thin trickle of green blood pulsed from the wound.

"Juree," Tuvok stepped in the kitchen, "Go to your room."

Juree's head snapped to face her father. "I'm sorry, Father!" she cried, a small tear coursing down her cheek.

"Work on your letters as your sister has instructed you. One of us will come for you later."

Juree cast a glare back at her sister before slipping out of the kitchen.

Tuvok bent down and picked up a shard of bluish glass. "I am concerned about Juree." He finally admitted to his daughter.

"Me too." Standing, Asil turned to face Tuvok. "Father, I am doing my best to be a mother to her, am I failing?"

Tuvok straightened and carried the glass to the waste disposal system. "No, Asil. I questioned my own actions as a father concerning Sek and Varith when Elieth was born. I was given good advice and told that these two boys were acting as I had at their age. Though Juree is two years younger than Varith was at the time, she is acting very close to how he was." Tuvok hesitated, unsure why he was going to say what he was next. "Even so, I wish to have Juree's DNA tested for abnormal development. There is something about her which leads me to be concerned."

Asil nodded as she swept the last sliver of glass from the floor. "I concur. When I was her age, I remember sneaking around to run through the sands, not throwing things at Mother."

Two weeks later, Juree sat on a medical biobed as Kavik ran his scanner over her. The Vulcan said nothing as he read the tiny tricorder, but merely looked up as he finished.

"She is in perfect health." He pronounced before turning to Juree. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he told her quietly, "I'd like to discuss something with your father. Please go to the outer room for a minute. My nurse is out there. You can draw a pretty picture for us."

"It is quite common place for Vulcan children to be present for their own diagnosis." Tuvok stopped Juree. "I wish for her to remain here."

Kavik met the older man's eyes. "This time, she will wait outside."

Tuvok saw that there was something wrong. Something terribly wrong. Nodding once, he gave Juree a push to the outer room. After the door closed, he waited as Kavik downloaded the tricorder into the computer console.

"This is a normal strand of Vulcan DNA." Kavik began as he pointed at the double helix appearing on the screen. "I have colored the 'rungs of the ladder' in yellow as they are pure Vulcan."

Tuvok watched as another strand of DNA began spinning beside the original. This one, though mostly yellow, also had patches of red and blue in it.

"This is Juree's DNA." Kavik said. "The red and blue are Klingon and Terran DNA respectively."

"You're saying that Juree is part Klingon and Human?"

"Yes." Kavik switched the monitor off. "As you can see, it's just a little bit. I estimate that she is seventy five percent Vulcan. And twelve point five percent Terran and the same amount Klingon. In other words, her great grandfather and great grandmother were full Terran and Klingon""

Tuvok nodded once. "This does explain her over energetic stages."

"Yes, and in the future, it will explain why she will not be as restrained in her emotions as a full Vulcan. Also, since she is one eighth of two different species, she may develop some characteristics of the others." Kavik pulled the tricorder readings back up. "I believe I saw slight ridges in her skeletal patterns that will develop more fully, although they will be nearly indecipherable from her hairline. And, although her ears are pointed, it appears that her human DNA proclaimed itself for her mind powering genes."

"You're saying that her mind powers, if any, will be limited?"

Kavik nodded. "In light of her not being full Vulcan, I believe she will be hard pressed to attend the local schools and master their classes. She will be more restless than the other children and will likely be teased about her ridges and lack of mind powers." Kavik looked down for a moment before meeting the other man's eyes. "If it were any other situation, I would tell the parents to raise the child as a true Vulcan, but that can not be done here because she is not a true Vulcan. She is only part Vulcan. And, she should be with children who will be like her and have the same amount of uncontrolled energy as her."

Tuvok ignored the hot sands that stung his face as he gazed over the desert landscape. He'd been home for barely six months and was restless. He was a vital part of the family's life-- especially Juree's-- but he felt he served no purpose. After resting for a month and visiting the tabernacles the next two months, Tuvok had spent the remaining of his time wandering around his home looking for something to do. And there was plenty. But, he didn't wish to spend the rest of his life playing mommy.

The truth was, his children were grown or nearly grown and he was in the way. Oh, no one would come out and say it, but Tuvok could feel it. Sek had his job as an ambassador for the Federation's Vulcan base. He spent many days touring the planet with some of the Federation's top executives. And, at least once a week he was called on to visit another planet and sort out some mess.

Lanil was busy raising her young son and training him in Vulcan restraint. It was a difficult task for the young mother, but she was trying her best. Tuvok was reminded of his own difficulties with his sons as he watched the struggle between mother and son.

Elieth, once eager to have his father home and back in the tabernacles, now spent more time reviewing the old scrolls that had once been an obsession of Tuvok's.

Asil had taken her exams and had been accepted for entrance into the Academy the following year. She was intending to take Juree with her to Terra and find a small apartment for them. It was the perfect solution to the biological problem which Juree-- who still didn't know she was different-- would be faced with the following year when she was required to enter school.

Thinking of his daughter's pending education reminded Tuvok of his own transmission from Starfleet. 'Would he come back and teach,' they had asked him. Instincts told him to say no, but after careful thought, Tuvok was wondering if maybe he should go with his daughter and become one of the professors.

"Father! Father! Father!"

Tuvok was shaken out of his reverie by Juree who was running through the sand towards him, followed by her nephew who was chasing her. Throwing herself into his lap, Juree let out a peal of laughter as she climbed away from Mesnik.

"I nearly had you that time!" Mesnik shouted as a grin slipped over his features.

"Close your mouth, Mesnik. Juree, calm yourself." Tuvok slipped into the parenting role as he often did when the children were rowdy and there was no one to restrain them.

Mesnik balled his fists and squinched his eyes shut-- a habit that he used often and reminded Tuvok of Varith. When he had calmed himself down, Mesnik opened his eyes and gazed up at his grandfather.

"I am restrained."

Tuvok nodded once and then slid off the boulder with Juree still in his arms. "We shall return to the house. There is something I must discuss with your parents."

A few months later, Tuvok sat in his office reviewing the student roster, gold shouldered uniform and pips back in place. He would be teaching a course entitled 'Security 1101.' Not the most difficult of courses, but he would make it a challenge.

One name stood out from the group-- Cadet Hanson's-- as she was referred to on the roster. But Tuvok knew he would call her 'Seven' more often.

A movement at the door drew his attention. "Seven, come in." He regarded her with indifference, but was actually pleased to see an old crewmate.

"Thank you." She stepped inside and glanced over Tuvok's shoulder at the roster, her face paling slightly.

"Is something wrong?" Tuvok asked.

"Nothing." She answered, "I do not get along with K'Ratacha Nowak. And, I see she is in your class."

"Indeed." Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "When I was first assigned to serve with Captain Janeway, it was to both of our displeasure. Neither of us would have chosen the other. But, in time, we learned to work together and even became friends."

Tuvok would have continued, but another shadow fell over the door. This time, it as Asil and Juree.

"Seven, I would like for you to meet my daughter, Asil, and adopted daughter, Juree."

Seven nodded at the woman before her and eyed the child carefully.

"You look funny."

"Juree." Asil grabbed her by the arm. "I apologize, Seven, Father."

Seven tilted her head to the side. "It is irrelevant. She has never seen Borg before."

"That is true, but she must learn to restrain from thoughtless words." Tuvok opened his arms to invite the tot into them. She bounded to her father with a gleeful smile. "And, she must learn to restrain her emotions." Tuvok added giving her a hug.

Seven eyed the two. "You have become less restrained at demonstrating emotions." She stated observing the child with him.

Tuvok looked up suddenly. "Indeed, Seven. I have. I must rectify that immediately."

The neon pink and yellow sign cast a soft rainbow of colors over Neelix's already splashy outfit. "Here you go, sir." He smiled as he poured Romulan ale into a glass for a patron of his restaurant.

"Thanks." Veth grunted picking up his fork and digging into the leola root casserole.

"Now, if you need anything, anything at all, just call for me." Veth grunted again and Neelix moved back to his bar counter.

Once Voyager, had finally reached its home, Neelix had been at odds over what to do with himself. He had been cooking for a crew of nearly one hundred and fifty for over eight years and it seemed natural for him to continue doing just that. With his lack of actual Starfleet training, only one merchant ship had been willing to hire him. Yet, they had given him a generous salary and within the first month of his being in the Alpha Quadrant, he had enough money to begin his own restaurant-- Rinax. It was named after the moon of Talax. Rinax had been his homeworld until the war came, and then he had escaped to Talax-- and lost his entire family in the process. Five sisters, two parents, and dozens of friends-- the most precious who was Vaxi.

Looking over the menu board, Neelix had to smile. Since he'd begun cooking, he'd invented all sorts of new dishes-- and many of them boasted the names of his family members. It was the highest honor he could bestow on them at his lowly position as a restaurant owner, but whenever someone ordered the Alixia casserole or the Vaxi ale, he felt a smile break across his face.

On this particular night, Neelix pulled his stool from under the counter and sat down to polish glasses. It had been a slow night and he was looking forward to closing up shop so he could go home to his apartment.

"This place is distasteful!"

Glancing up sharply, Neelix saw a cluster of Klingons entering the small establishment.

"Welcome, warriors!" He called out placing the glass on the counter. "What can I get for you this evening?"

A large, rather burly faced, Klingon led the pack over to the counter. "Do you have blood pie?" He growled.

"No." Neelix picked up a data padd. "I do have a splendid rt'shak that just finished boiling though. And, if you like, I can add blood pie to the menu for tomorrow."

A gloved fist came down on the glass that had just been polished and smashed it. "Blood pie. Now."

Neelix took a step back and then lifted his chin in defiance. "Now, look here. You can't come in here busting up my place and demanding food which hasn't been prepared. I make blood pie at least once a year- on the Day of Honor- and usually one or two other times as well. I'll make it for tomorrow if you like, but not tonight."

The Klingon started to lean over the counter. Neelix stumbled back wondering if he was going to lose his life in an argument over what he didn't have cooked.

"Is there a problem here?"

Both parties looked up at the bar's newest guest. A large Klingon officer in a Starfleet uniform, arms were crossed over his chest, but a phaser was clenched in his hand.

"Not at all." The antagonist moved back and then led his friends out with a last glare at the officer.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Neelix took a deep breath of air. "I thought they were going to kill me!"

"Unlikely."

"I'm Neelix. The owner of Rinax."

"I gathered that." The security officer returned his phaser to his hip. "I'm Worf."

"Well, thank you Mr. Worf." Neelix swept the shards of glass into the waste disposal system with one swift movement.

"It is my...duty..as an officer." Worf simply replied taking a seat on the bar stool. "You are from the Delta Quadrant, correct?"

"Yes, yes. Now, what can I get you? First drink is on the house." Neelix grinned at the large Klingon . "It's the least I can do after you saved my life!"

Worf grunted but nodded to the Klingon t'rsak. "Just half a glass."

Neelix poured the thick purplish colored liquid and set it before Worf. "Anything you want to know about my home quadrant?"

Worf took a long gulp of the liquid. "Yes. What are the Borg like now? It has been a few years since the Alpha Quadrant has had any dealings with them."

"Well, they're....I mean....they're planning...." Neelix furrowed his brow. "They're Borg. They're planning on taking over and assimilating everything in their path. What else is there to know?"

"Do they have any new weapons?"

Neelix paused for a moment. "Well, yes." He rubbed his nose while trying to remember the exact circumstances surrounding the peace treaty with the Borg. "While we were in Borg space, Captain Janeway formed an alliance with them in order to ensure our safe passage through what we coined the 'Northwest Passage.' They gave us safe passage, and we gave them a weapon which would defeat species 8472."

"8472?" Word frowned. "I have read about them. They're from fluidic space, correct?"

"Yep. And a hostile enemy to just about every species out there. Including the Borg."

"You encountered many hostile races while you were there. Is that the normality? Or did Starfleet just tell of the hostile encounters?"

"Well, there were a good many friendly aliens that we met. But," Neelix shrugged as he wiped the counter down. "There were quite a few mean ones with no good intent." He leaned forward on his elbows to get in the other man's face. "Just between you and me, Mr. Worf, I've seen quite a few customers who remind me of those hostile aliens." He grimaced. "Probably because I'm different, but they think I'm here for walking over. You, yourself, saw a bit of it tonight. And frankly, I'm getting tired of it."

Neelix carefully set the glass down on the counter. He was literally shaking from the last customer he'd served. Two Bolian men, probably merchants judging by their clothing, had stopped in and had a disagreement. Luckily, there had been a few now peaceful Cardassians nearby to help Neelix solve the little problem. But, that didn't stop them from flipping one table and leaving a knife protruding from the wall.

"Whatever happened here?"

Neelix spun around, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him or if one of his old crewmantes really stood behind him.

"Lieutenant!" He rushed forward and wrapped a surprised B'Elanna Torres in his arms. "How are you doing?"

"Fine." She grunted as she untangled herself from the over excited Talaxian. "My ship is docked for a few hours so I figured I'd better check in and see how you're doing."

"Oh, everything's wonderful here." He waved a hand around the small establishment. "Except for the few minor entanglements, its' great."

She nodded and slid onto the stool. "Could I get a cup of coffee?"

"Just coffee?" Neelix pulled a dish towards himself. "I've got blood pie here in case a few Klingons from last week happen to stop in. Would you care to try a slice?"

"No thanks." She wrinkled her nose.

"Oh. Forgot." He smiled and poured the mug full of steaming fluid. "You never cared too much for blood pie."

"That's right." She took a grateful gulp and smiled at Neelix. "Miss Voyager?"

"Incredibly." He sighed a weary sigh and laid the damp cloth back on the counter. "The Alpha Quadrant hasn't become home yet. And, these alien brawls aren't helping much."

"I know what you mean." She glared down at her hands. Should she tell him? It was over a year ago that she'd stormed out of Admiral Paris' office, yet it still bothered her.

"Speaking of Voyager, why weren't you at the wedding?"

She would tell him. "Because of Tom." B'Elanna played with the handle of the mug, traced her long fingers over the smooth marbled blue surface. It was smooth, yet bumpy to rise and fall as if it had actually been marbles glued together. "He recorded a message to me that his father gave me. It basically said I wasn't good enough for him because I'm Klingon." Tears threatened to well up in her brown eyes, but she held them at bay. "He hurt me so bad that day. Everything I had ever sacrificed for him, most of all putting my own stubborn pride aside, was now meaningless." Watering eyes looked up at the bar tender. "I miss him Neelix. So much. But, there's nothing I can do."

"Have you seen him again?"

"I can't face him. Not after that."

Neelix was silent for a long while. "You know what," he began, "I think that the crew needs to get back together for something. A reunion if nothing else. Everyone." He added at the slight shake of B'Elanna's head.

"I couldn't, Neelix. It's...it's too soon."

"What if it was a few years from now?" Neelix was already smiling. "Yes, that's it. We'll have it on the three year anniversary of our being in the Alpha Quadrant. That's nearly two years from now, surely you can be ready by then."

B'Elanna nodded slowly. "If you plan it for two years from now, I'll come."

"Done." He grinned. "Clear your calendar. I'll speak to Captain Janeway about getting it set up as soon as I can."

"Admiral Janeway."

"Admiral Janeway-Tighe." He corrected. "I keep forgetting her new title and name."

"I am here to see the admiral, please."

The secretary on duty looked up at the strange, round man before her dressed in clothing which sported bright, clashing splashes of color.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Of course not." Neelix puffed up his chest. "You go and tell her Neelix is here. She'll see me right away."

"Sir, I highly doubt that. The Admiral has me carefully screen each person she does meet with." She glanced over his clothing once again. "I hardly doubt you will meet her. Why don't you go home and write her a letter like the other couple hundred visitors do? Then, she'll still get the message."

Neelix planted his feet apart in the floor. "I'm staying here until you at least tell her that Neelix is here."

The woman frowned. She pressed the intercom on the desk. "Admiral, there is a man by the name of 'Neelix' who wishes to see you. Shall I send him away?"

"How's he dressed?"

A smug smile appeared on the woman's face as she described Neelix's outlandish choice of clothing for the meeting.

The door burst open and Kathryn came out quickly, a grin on her face as she wrapped Neelix in a hug-- much to the shock of the secretary.

"How are you, Neelix?" She asked as she pulled him into her office.

"Doing pretty well, actually." He smiled. "I can see you are too."

Kathryn grimaced at the data padds littering her desk with half finished cups of coffee. "It's worse than while we were out there." She looked over to the full window that overlooked the park. "At least I had a good view out there."

"But Admiral," Neelix protested. "An office job must seem so much easier compared to being the captain."

"Not really." She frowned as she collected the mugs to replace in the replicator. "They're two very different jobs. A captain is responsible for their ship and those that they meet. An admiral spends more time trying to get two races to quit fighting, or to assign crews. It's rather boring."

"You miss Voyager?"

"More than I care to admit." She sighed and picked up a picture. "But, if we hadn't come back, I wouldn't have my father or husband."

"How is marriage working for you?"

"Oh, good." She didn't offer any more and Neelix didn't press her.

Instead, he launched into the reunion idea.

"I think it's wonderful." Blue eyes took on a sparkle that had been missing for a few weeks. "Absolutely perfect. I want for you to be in charge of it. And, I want for it to be held on our ship." She set her mouth in a determined line. "Leave that part to me."

Neelix didn't think too much of the reunion for the next few weeks. He was too busy being concerned with what his customers were arguing about and watching out for his restaurant. So, the day that the doorway was filled with a large shadow, he felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Neelix's back was turned, but he could see the man's outline from where he was kneeling on the floor to select which decanters he wished to display that evening. He nearly groaned. Last night there had been another confrontation, this time between himself and a Cardassian when he refused to stay open after hours. He'd finally won the battle and the Cardassian had marched off. Neelix hoped this was not the same man returning or a friend of his.

Slowing, he gathered the green and blue vials and stood to turn around. A sigh of relief escaped Neelix as he caught the first glimpse of the man's peppering hair, hard jawline, tattoo, and four pips on his collar.

"Commander!" He set the glasses on his counter. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you too, Neelix." Chakotay took a seat at the bar. "By the way, I've been promoted, captain." He smiled widely.

"Congratulations, Captain." Neelix put a slight emphasis on the rank. "What can I get you?"

"Umm.." Chakotay looked over the drinks. Any of the synthehol would have been nice, but he felt guilty about having it-- even it if was nonalcoholic. "Coffee is fine."

"You and Torres both." Neelix grumbled reaching for a large mug.

"B'Elanna's been here?"

"About a month ago." Neelix filled the green bottle with a peppermint scented wine. "She's on a merchant ship, I've gathered. And very broken up about Tom still."

"Tom? What happened with them?"

Neelix looked up, surprised. "I thought you knew. You of all people. Well, of course, you weren't at the wedding either to see how Tom was acting. Why weren't you there anyways?"

"Ahh,..prior engagement." Chakotay bluffed. "Tell me about B'Elanna and Tom."

"It's nothing much really. According to B'Elanna, Tom broke it off with her via his father because she's Klingon. Classic case of prejudice if I may say so. Of course, after seeing him at the wedding-- he was pretty cold the minute her name was mentioned-- I'd believe it."

Chakotay's brow furrowed in thought. "That doesn't sound like Tom. If you had told me they'd had a heated fight and he'd said that, I'd believe it. But, Tom is not one to cower behind his father."

"Well, whatever happened, it's over with. They're done." Neelix grinned suddenly. "And, B'Elanna agreed to come to our reunion that we're planning for two years from now."

"Oh? I hadn't heard anything about it."

"We just started talking about it. Admiral Janeway-Tighe is going to make sure we've got the ship for it." Neelix stopped suddenly. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"The Admiral." Neelix looked down. "I know her marriage must have been hard for you."

Chakotay shrugged. "It's been almost a year. I've had time. Anyways, if you'll let me know about the reunion, I'll be there. And," He glanced at the chronometer on the wall. 2000. "I have to get back to my ship soon. We're only here for a very short leave."

"Where are you headed to next?"

Chakotay fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Mars. Taking a group of tourists over there and then heading off to some diplomatic function on Ceslian 3. Not very exciting, but it's good to be with the stars."

"I think Kathryn misses it."

Chakotay didn't' miss the use of her first name as opposed to her title or last name. He didn't comment on it though, because at that moment a dark haired man walked in with a curvy brunette on his arm.

"Neelix,...isn't that?...."

"Yes, I believe it is." Neelix peered closer at them before grabbing a tray. "I suppose I have to serve him, though I do wonder if Kathryn knows her husband treats ladies out to dinner and drinks."

"I would seriously doubt it." Chakotay mumbled as his stomach knotted.

Neelix quickly served the two their ofelia, favorites from Betazed, and returned to the newly promoted captain to observe.

Chakotay stiffened as the woman laughed at something Justin said and he slipped an arm around her in the intimate booth. He leaned over and whispered something in response that made her blush.

"Oh, Justin!" She playfully slapped his cheek.

Blue eyes danced with mischief as he planted a kiss square on her mouth.

"You'd think they were a couple of cadets." Chakotay growled taking another gulp of the coffee which was growing cool.

Justin finally broke of the kiss as the woman ran her fingers through his tousled black curls.

"Didn't you say you had a ship to board?" Neelix asked nervously. He didn't appreciate Justin Tighe bringing a girlfriend to his restaurant, but he certainly didn't need Captain Chakotay to attack the man!

Chakotay pretended to not hear him as he studied the couple making a scene of themselves at the back of the restaurant. Justin still had his arm around her, and though they weren't' kissing, their faces were very close as she continued to wind his hair around long, slim fingers.

"Captain? Delta Quadrant to the captain."

Chakotay shook himself out of his daze. "I'm here, Neelix. Sorry." He stood up suddenly, his stool scraping loudly on the floor. "What do I owe you?"

"Nothing." Neelix frowned at him. "Don't even think about trying to pay. I never take money from the crew."

Chakotay pushed the door to Rinax open and let it shut with a bang. Turning on his heel, he marched himself down to HQ. Janeway would still be there, and after over a year of not seeing her, he felt as though it was long over due. Not to mention, as a once close friend of hers, she needed to know what was going on with her husband.

About half way enroute, Chakotay's stomach began to knot up. Who was he fooling? He hadn't seen Kathryn in over a year and his heart was aching to. Even if she believed him about Justin, she was married-- and just because her husband was cheating on her, it didn't' give her a right to cheat on him. Of course, there was always the chance she'd just get mad at Chakotay for dropping by in her life again, or she could always give him a hug, give him some coffee, give him an hour of talking, and give him the door-- which actually wouldn't be so bad.

Chakotay swallowed hard as he stepped into the small room outside her office. No one was there, it was late for even Kathryn to be there. Briefly, Chakotay wondered if she would even be there. But, of course she would. How else would Justin have an opportunity? Silently, Chakotay slipped past the secretary's desk and to the main office.

He knocked softly. Twice. No answer. Cautiously, he pushed open the door.

Kathryn was sitting at her desk, coffee cup in hand, forgotten padds strewn across the desk. The computer console blinked, casting a bluish glow on her face, but she wasn't concentrating on it.

The woman, whose jacket now sported five pips, was staring out the window, which at night held a view of lights and excitement from the park below them. Her hair, which almost immediately caught Chakotay's attention was just barely past her shoulders again. Not long as when she had worn it in the pony tail, but not nearly as short as she had had it.

"Capt-...ah, Admiral?"

Janeway's head jerked around. "Chakotay!" Her coffee cup crashed to the desk as her eyes grew wide in shock. "Oh!" She pushed back from the desk as the dark liquid and shards of the mug spew across the desk.

"Sorry." He looked at her apologetically.

"It's all right. I-" Her hand flittered to her face and pushed back the hair as she fluttered around the mess, "I wasn't paying attention. It's quite all right." Realizing she was babbling, Janeway looked nervously up at Chakotay who was smiling at her.

"I feel like an idiot." She admitted with a grin.

Chakotay quietly moved to the replicator and called for some towels which he wiped the mess from her desk with. After the mug had been replaced in the waste disposal system, he came to stand before her.

"It's been a long time."

"Too long, Chakotay." She took a step forward and was in his arms before he could register the movement.

His arms slid around her small frame as he held her close, savoring the moment until-- just as he knew she would-- she pulled back.

"Why didn't' you come to the wedding?"

Chakotay's eyes clouded over. "Kathryn, do you have to ask why?"

She took a deep breath. "No, I guess I don't." Kathryn slipped into one of the chairs that had faced her desk. "Have a seat." She smiled ruefully. "I'm afraid I don't have a comfortable couch anymore, but the chairs will have to do."

"They're fine."

"So," She crossed her legs and folded her hands over her knees. "To what pleasure do I owe this visit?"

"So formal?" He teased and then grinned at the slight blush in her cheeks. He looked down at his hands for a long moment.

"Chakotay?" Her hand was instantly on his arm, a comforting and familiar gesture.

When he looked up again, his eyes revealed a complete amount of seriousness. "Kathryn," He stumbled and had to start again. "Kay, I wasn't planning on seeing you while we're docked here."

She smiled again. "That's right, congratulations are in order, Captain."

"Thanks." He didnt' smile. "We're here for a few hours to have some minor repairs done." He shrugged. "I should have just stayed on the ship."

"But you didn't, you came to see me." She smiled. "Thank you."

"Hold your thanks." Chakotay leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. "I decided I wasn't going to come here, even if we were on Earth. So, I went to Rinax to see Neelix. While we were talking," He hesitated, "I saw Justin there,...with another woman."

Kathryn withdrew her hand from Chakotay's arm slowly. "Chakotay? What are you saying?"

"He's cheating on you, Kay."

Kathryn leaned back in her chair. "Justin would never do such a thing." She did her best not to glare at Chakotay, the last time they'd fought she hadn't heard from him for over a year. "You don't' know him. It was probably just a dinner meeting."

Chakotay drew in a deep breath. He really hadn't wanted to tell her, just to be with her. And now, he certainly didn't want to describe the issue which was at hand. "Kathryn, this was not a dinner meeting."

"You can't be sure of that, Chakotay." She stood up and wandered to her window. "I refuse to believe that he would cheat on me like that. It's so unlike Justin it's not plausible."

"Kathryn,-"

"No. Don't, 'Kathryn' me, Commander." She spun around and glared at him. "The last time I saw you, you told me he was going to break my heart and you'd be there for me to pick up the pieces. Is this your idea of trying to win me back? Break my heart by lying?" She stalked over to him. "It. Won't. Work. I love Justin. And he loves me."

"I know you love him!" Chakotay burst out. "Don't you think I realize that?! Why else would I not come to your wedding? I knew there was no chance for me to win you, and I couldn't bear to see you marry him!"

"Kay, if there was anything I could change, it'd be this. I don't want you hurt, and I realize I'm only your second choice. I love you so much, I'd rather not have you, but allow you to be happy-"

"Then quit trying to take my happiness away!" She snapped, blue eyes shooting flames as she returned to the window.

"I'm not trying to!" Chakotay bellowed. "I just want for you to see the truth so you can deal with it!" He watched Kathryn's back. Her arms were folded over her stomach, her shoulders rose and fell in an irregular pattern. She was crying, he realized. Oh spirits, he'd never meant to make her cry. "Kath?"

She stiffened at his touch on her shoulder before turning to face him. Tears streamed down the sides of her face, which she ignored. "Chakotay, Justin and I have been having some problems. Just minor ones." She rushed on. "We've been talking about them and are working on them. That's how I know he'd never cheat on me at this point in our life. We're both trying to make this work."

"He's quit trying though!" Chakotay insisted.

"And you're going to hold by this story?" She glared at him through her watered eyes. "Commander, I really thought you had more integrity than that. I'm having enough problems with this new marriage without your adding to them!"

"Kathryn Janeway, listen to me!" He grabbed her by the shoulders. "I love you and only want your happiness."

"Yeah," she snapped, "As long as it is in accordance with your happiness."

"Listen to yourself!" He implored. "You're trying to believe that I would hurt you to win you over! Kat, that's not me! You know me. You lived next door to me for eight years. You served with me for eight years. For most of that time, we were the person closest to each other. You know I would never hurt you!"

Kathryn shook herself out of Chakotay's grasp. "Apparently, you've changed."

Chakotay raked a hand through his hair again. "Fine." He snapped. "I've changed and become this ogre who's out to kill your happiness."

"I never said you were out to kill my happiness!"

"You did. 'I have enough problems without your adding to them.'" He mimicked her higher voice and stance. "Kathryn, you're going to believe what you want. Just listen to me this time. Watch Justin. Watch him carefully."

"I don't' need to baby-sit my husband!"

"Well, maybe it's time you do!" Chakotay turned his back to her and drew in a deep breath.

"No, don't' you dare turn your back on me now!" She snapped and grabbed his shoulder.

Her touch burned through his uniform as he turned back to her, the fire of anger burning within his eyes. "If you would listen to me and take heed of what I'm saying, I wouldn't get so angry!" He shouted at her. "I'm leaving, Kathryn. If you ever want to talk to me again, you come to me."

"Fine, Commander, act like a coward and run from your fights."

Chakotay paused in the door way. "It's captain, Mrs. Tighe."

"Set course for the Mars colony. Warp six." Captain Chakotay managed to hide his rolling emotions behind the mask of the captain. Taking his seat on the bridge of his ship, he couldn't help but feel a bit of nostalgic for his seat on Voyager with his captain beside him. Glancing to his left, Chakotay saw Commander Riv'Kart cast a sideways glance at him. She was a good XO, especially as her part Klingon heritage allowed her to enforce the rules and decisions with a simple glare, but she wasn't close to Chakotay as he and Kathryn had been. He wouldn't allow it, for one thing. Another, in the Alpha Quadrant, reassigning officers was not uncommon, growing close to another person was a dangerous thing-- emotionally.

"Captain?"

He shook himself out of his reverie and stood. "Nothing, Commander. You have the bridge." Chakotay made the way quickly to his ready room and sat down at the desk. There were a few reports he needed to go over, but he couldn't concentrate. Seeing Kathryn and Neelix had left him wondering what had happened to the other crew members after they'd gone their separate ways.

He, himself, had been reinstated as a full commander to Starfleet. After a small skirmish in sector 2283, with a Cardassian merchant who still opposed the peace treaty, Captain Hiksulo had been killed, leaving Chakotay in command. He had managed to disable, not destroy, the Cardassians, by using a trick from his Maquis days. Limping back to Starbase 83, Starfleet had heard of the episode and granted him full commission of the Dalberry. He was proud of his little ship, the ninth Intrepid class ship to be built. And had bravely led her to more than one battle in order to keep peace.

But, now it seemed Starfleet had better ideas for the beautiful ship-- tote tourists and dignitaries around the quadrant.

"Riv'Kart to Captain Chakotay, we'll be approaching the Mars colony within twenty minutes."

"Acknowledged. Enter standard orbit and inform me then." Chakotay closed the comm signal and traced a finger over the face in a holopicture on his desk. Kathryn. His heart constricted in anger. How could she think he'd lie like that to her!? She, of all people, knew how much he loved and cared for her. While they were in the Delta Quadrant, he'd never pressed her about a relationship-- at least, he didn't consider the on going joke about eloping with the Maquis as pressing her-- and he had always made it very clear to any alien that they would have to go through him first if they wanted to hurt her. He knew it unnerved her, but he couldn't turn off those actions for anything. He'd tried.

A flash of red caught the corner of his eye. Turning to the window, Chakotay gazed down at the Mars colony. Once thought to hold it's own species, complete with green skin and antennas, it was soon discovered that Mars was simply another planet which-- if properly transformed-- could sustain life.

Involuntarily, Chakotay thought back to the time Kathryn had told him she'd been swimming and diving in the quarries below. His heart had hammered with fear and he'd made her swear she'd never do it again, at least, not without him there to protect her. She had laughed at him, but made the promise.

"We've entered orbit." Riv'Kart's voice came through the comm system.

"Ok, thanks Commander." Chakotay quickly flipped on his terminal. HQ would be hailing him soon and he figured it was best-

"Captain, HQ is hailing us."

"Patch it in here."

"Welcome, Dalberry." The lieutenant at the console greeted him while still shuffling through data padds on his desk. "This is a tourist vessel this time, correct?"

"That's correct."

"How many?"

"Seventy four."

"Previous contact?"

"Earth."

"All right. You're cleared for transport." The lieutenant nodded quickly at Chakotay and then flipped the screen off.

Chakotay relayed the information to transporter rooms 1 and 2 and then leaned back. A few hours of dropping off guests, and picking up a few others, and they'd be on their way again.

Chakotay tossed in his bed. He was dreaming of something, something he wouldn't be able to remember when he awakened. A hand snaked out and clutched the pillow beside him. In his dreams, another hand pulled him further into a white mist. He wrapped his arms around his pillow tightly and whimpered quietly in his slumber.

"No!" Suddenly, he sat up straight in bed.

It was that dream. The one that had been plaguing him for a few weeks. He wiped the perspiration from his face with a hand and then got up. Splashing cold water on his face he glanced at the chronometer before tugging on his sweats. It was only 0300, but he wasn't going to be able to sleep. Might as well do what he'd always done when he couldn't sleep. Run.

The Dalberry wasn't near as big as Voyager, but her six decks were still enough to make up a decent sized jogging track. The officers on duty barely glanced up as Chakotay ran past -- they were used to his late night excursions.

Slap. Slap. The soles of his jogging shoes hit the carpeted floor with just enough force to exert a sound. Slap. Slap. He rounded the corner. Why did she have to irritate him so much? Chakotay squeezed his fists into tight balls. It had been nearly a month since their fight, but he was still feeling the heat from it. Slap. Slap. His anger had not diminished at all. He was still livid at her for even thinking he could be so cold towards her. She should know him better! He loved her! Slap. Sla- Tumble!

Chakotay slapped the insignia on his chest as he picked himself up off the floor. "Bridge, what happened?"

"Sorry, Captain." Lt. Cherkitte, the helm officer, replied. "I had to make some sudden course adjustments. You might want to be up here for this."

"On my way." Chakotay jogged to the turbolift and promptly ordered "Deck one."

The doors slid open to reveal a tiny shuttlecraft on the view screen, adrift. "Status?"

"I've been hailing her, sir." Lt. Meloria answered. "No response yet."

"They are adrift," The Chief of Security, Lt. Comdr. Tashvak added. "No power to weapons. No power at all."

"Life signs?"

"Two. One is very erratic."

"Beam them both directly to sickbay. Behind a containment field. We don't know who they are. For all I know, they're sympathetic to the Cardassian resistance."

"Aye, sir." Meloria's hands moved over the console. "Transport complete."

"I'll be in sickbay."

Chakotay stopped by his quarters to grab a quick shower and a uniform. Twenty minutes later, the was standing in sickbay.

"Captain," Dr. Ta'Kwat hurried over to him. "I've done the best I could for that one over there." He pointed out a biobed where a Klingon female, approximately twenty five years old lay on the biobed. "But, it wasn't enough. She died minutes after beaming her aboard. The other one seems to be doing better. Only a few minor burns which I was able to repair. She's as good as new now. And," he continued as a moan emitted from her still form. "She's waking up."

Chakotay moved forward and felt his heart stop in his chest. White-blond hair spilled around her face and framed her shoulders. Her skin, a pale, milky color, was even more ashen than he had ever remembered her. "Sveta..." He whispered.

Gray eyes flickered open and she found his face. "Chakotay?" She managed to whisper in awe.

"I take it you know one another?" Dr. Ta'Kwat asked with a wide smile.

"Yes." Chakotay swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Well, ma'am. You're lucky to have survived. Your partner was not quite so lucky."

Sveta looked over where the Klingon lay on her biobed. "K'Kara." She whispered hoarsely, a tear falling from her eyes.

"Is Sveta free to go, Doctor?" Chakotay asked bluntly.

"Fine, fine." The Doctor ran a tricorder over Sveta. "You're able to be released from sickbay if you wish."

"She does." Chakotay carefully helped her off the biobed and allowed her to lean on him for support. Walking slowly, he led her to the messhall where they ordered a meal for her and coffee for him. *Curse Kathryn, for getting me hooked on coffee.*

"How did you come to be in that little shuttle stranded?" Chakotay finally asked.

"After the Maquis were dissolved, K'Kara and I joined a small crew of merchants. We were the lucky ones who escaped the wrath of the Cardassians. We were with them for a while, and just now had broken away from the crew and were headed back to Earth." She lowered her head suddenly. "Some of the resisting Cardassians found us and tried to destroy us, but they had been heavily damaged too. Our phasers were enough to destroy the rest of their shields and tear a gash in the side of their hull. Last we saw of them, they were limping away, barely alive and confident we'd be dead within a week. Which we would have been."

Chakotay gazed at this woman, this girl whom he had loved while still a cadet at the academy. "You're safe here." He finally told her with a smile.

She reached over and clasped his hand, "Thank you, Chakotay." She looked around the room for a minute before meeting his eyes again. "Tell me about yourself. I haven't seen you since you were headed for the Badlands. Though, I did hear the reports that you'd been transported with a Starfleet vessel to the Delta Quadrant."

So, Chakotay told her. He told her of how Captain Kathryn Janeway had allowed him and his crew to join hers and how their crews had molded to form one single unit-- a family really. He told Sveta of some of the battles they had fought, of their return journey, and then of his promotion to captain.

"You love her, don't you?"

Chakotay stiffened, startled she had been able to read him so clearly. "Who?" He asked guarded.

"Captain Janeway."

"Of course, she was a very close friend for many years."

Sveta smiled. "Did you ever tell her you love her?"

Chakotay looked away. "I'd rather talk about something else."

"Like how you've got to be on duty in ten minutes?"

Chakotay's head swung to the chronometer. 0750. "How did you know?..." He wondered aloud at her.

"The captain of the trading ship was an old Starfleet captain. Insisted on running everything by the book, including schedules. 0800 every morning he was on the bridge." She wrinkled her nose at him. "Kinda annoying, but it gave us time to get everything in order and hide what he didn't need to see."

He smiled at her and stood. "Well, you kept me talking for over four hours, least I can let you do is get some sleep. Quarters 4-15-A are free. I know that for a fact because we just left a bunch of tourists on Mars. I'll make arrangements to take you where ever you want, but get some sleep and then come to me later."

"Ok." Standing, she brushed a peck of a kiss on his cheek before exiting the room. Several crew members hid smiles and snickers behind napkins and hands as Chakotay followed her.

"Then what?" Sveta slid closer to Chakotay's side as he described Voyager's encounter with the Borg.

"We,..ah,....we beamed them directly into space. With the exception of one, Seven of Nine, we were successful." Chakotay shifted slightly.

"Seven? She's the one who came back with you, right?" Sveta rested her hand on Chakotay's. "I heard about her in all the excitement. Something about her being granted admittance at the Academy."

"Yeah, she's over there now."

"And you're finally captain of a Starfleet ship." Sveta smiled at him proudly, gray eyes grinning at him. "I knew you'd make it one day."

Chakotay accepted the compliment with a nod and then wondered at himself. Here he was, sitting in his quarters with a beautiful woman hanging onto his every word. And, she had been an old girlfriend he had loved, at that! Yet, all he could think of was how hurt Kathryn would be if she knew. Chakotay made a decision then. She had hurt him, it was time for him to go on with his life. Sliding an arm around Sveta's shoulders, he encouraged her to talk about the Maquis.

Sweat beaded across his forhead. Chakotay lay, still tossing in a fitful dream, on his back, one hand clenching his pillow.

"Kathryn." He whimpered. "No..."

He flipped to his side and curled into a fetal position. "No....no...no..." He whispered over and over again. Jerking to the side, he suddenly sat up with a gasp.

It was a dream. Only a dream. Trying to calm his ragged breathing, he wondered once again what was causing the dreams.

Snatches from it-- Kathryn glaring at him on a cold beach, Sveta pulling him towards a white mist, crew members welcoming him to the white mist, pure panic-- swirled around in his thoughts. Then, just as the mist had, they began to fade away. As he drifted off to sleep again, he remembered nothing of the startling dreams which had woken him.

Chakotay tapped his computer terminal. Three new messages from HQ. Glancing briefly at them, he noted that two were over a month old and a new one had appeared. All from Admiral Janeway-Tighe. He ignored them and went on to Admiral Meskosy's. Just a few lines informing him that the Dalberry was to make an unscheduled stop at Riza for some more tourists. Chakotay inwardly groaned. Exactly what he needed-- more people on vacation running around his ship.

"I've made a decision, Chakotay."

He looked up and saw Sveta framed in the doorway. "About?"

"Where I'm going to go." She reminded him with a smile. "I'm going to stay here, if you'll have me."

He returned the smile and stood to move towards her. "Of course, Sveta."

The tall blond flew into his arms and pressed herself close. "She doesn't matter?"

"Of course not. I do have to live my life after all." He reminded her.

"Thank you, Chakotay." Her hand found the back of his neck and pulled his lips down to meet his. "Thank you...." She whispered against his mouth. "I love you."

"I...I love you too."

She pulled back and looked at him suddenly. "Do you? Do you really?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't be kissing you." He smiled and tightened his arms around her.

"This is true." She grinned back at him before allowing him to continue with their kiss.

Moments later, they pulled back and smiled at one another.

"I'm going to need a post." She finally said. "I can't expect you to give me quarters and tote me around the galaxy without working for it."

"I hadn't thought of that." Chakotay returned to his desk and closed his message box. "It looks like they need some help in the kitchen." He smiled ruefully at her. "How are your cooking skills?"

"Mediocre." She laughed. "I'll try not to kill anyone though."

"If it gets too bad, we can always reassign you to security and have you feed our enemies."

"Thanks alot!" She turned on her heel. "I'm going to head down to the mess hall right now and see if they need help."

"See you at lunch then." Chakotay watched her stalk out of the doorway and was reminded of Kathryn's cooking skills-- or rather lack of. He reached for a cup of coffee. *Darn her for making him love coffee and darn her for making him love her!*

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Sveta watched from across the room as Chakotay flipped on his console to retrieve a message that was apparently marked urgent from Starfleet. His eyes clouded over and he glared at the screen before flipping it back off.

"What was it?" She asked softly, meeting him in the middle of his sitting room with a hug.

"Nothing." He folded her into his warm embrace and stroked her back.

"Starfleet doesn't make you glare, Chakotay. Who was it from?"

"Kathryn." He spat the name out as if it tasted bad. "It's the eighth message I've gotten from her in two months."

"Have you answered them?"

"I haven't read them!"

"You should."

"Thank you very much, ma'am. But, I'd prefer not to."

"Chakotay," She laid a hand on the side of his face. "You have to face her sometime. Might as well get it over with."

"I don't have to face her. I already did that twice. Both times, we ended up not speaking. And, as she was the one to claim that I've changed and am out to break her and Justin up, I'm not going to answer or even allow her the pleasure of knowing that I've read her messages!"

Chakotay pushed Sveta out of his arms and sat down with his head in his hands on the couch.

"You don't understand, Sveta. The other times we've fought, I was always the one ready to go back to her at a moment's notice. She hurt me this time though. Claimed I was willing to hurt her if I thought it'd help her turn to me." He looked up at Sveta with tears in his eyes. Tears of anger. "I would never hurt her, and she knows it! It was her way of punishing me, I think."

"Shhhh, Chakotay." Sveta sat down and put her arms around him. "I know you'd never hurt anyone." She snuggled her face into his chest.

"You're right.." He took a deep breath. "And, I've said all I needed to say to her. We're over and through. I guess that technically, we never started. Besides," He cuddled her face close to him, "I've got you."

His bedding had been tossed to the floor after a late night run to think through his feelings. It wouldn't have mattered now, his pillow joined the blanket on the floor as Chakotay tossed in his bed.

"No!" He whimpered in his sleep as he curled into a ball and then threw his legs out straight. Sveta was there again. Pulling him through the mist, away from Kathryn. Justin was there also. Pulling Kathryn and her out stretched hand away from Chakotay.

"Kathryn..." He whispered. "Don't leave me."

"Chakotay...you hurt me..."

Sveta managed to make him lose sight of Kathryn. Instantly, he felt panic and fear as the white mist closed around him.

Chakotay picked up a rock and threw it out at the sea. Not sure why he did it, but knowing it must stand for something in his life. Back in his quarters, the rock had actually been a pillow. It hit the window and fell to the floor bringing a picture with it.

The captain sat straight up in bed, or rather on bed as his sheets and pillows were scattered about the room. He remembered. He remembered the dream. Looking around, he spotted the old fashioned paper he had kept-- a story he'd started sometime during the fourth year on Voyager about him falling in love with someone and not being able to remember it, kind of silly really, but he'd kept it. Grabbing the paper and pen, he know jotted down the memories of the dream as they began to recede.

Kathryn. Sveta. Being pulled from Kathryn to Sveta. Justin. Rock. Panic. He raked a hand through his hair. What did it mean? Was Sveta pulling him away from Kathryn? Hadn't he made the choice to leave her by himself? But, what of the feeling of panic that had risen the instant Kathryn was out of sight? Did it mean that the instant he lost all contact with Kathryn, he would feel panic?

Well, he had made his decision. Answering her messages was not an option. Gathering the blankets, Chakotay remade his bed and crawled back in. If the dreams persisted, he would simply get a sleep aide from the doctor.

Freezing cold wind stung Tom's face. He blinked several times and tried to clear his eyes of the snow flying up and stinging his already red cheeks. Arms and leg muscles worked quickly to move them in the fluidic motions required of the strenuous activity. A tree was nearing him. With a swift shift of his hips, he avoided the tree and certain death or at least injury. Snow sprayed the trail behind him as he pushed farther on his two skis. Just a little faster. A little bit faster, he encouraged himself.

"Three minutes, six point eighteen seconds." The woman with curling brown hair shouted as he sped past her.

"Darn!" Turning around he glared at the slope. 2:22:87 had been his best time back during his academy days, apparently old age was catching up with him. He couldn't get under three minutes.

"If you crouch down a little bit more..." Merie suggested an encouraging smile crossing her darker colored features.

"I can't get it, Merie. Quit trying to patronize me." Tom snapped.

"Just a little more practice," She insisted pulling the purple parka around her more tightly.

"No." He stuck the poles into the snow and started to push himself along the flatter ground towards the lodge.

"Why do you do this, Tom?" she asked jogging along side of him. "It makes no sense to let this get to you. You're almost fifteen years older than you were when you got that record. It only stands to reason that you would have to put in some major practicing before you're in shape to ski again."

"I am in shape." He growled. "Apparently, I've been away from the sport too long though."

"Exactly. Give it a few more years. You can't expect to be a galactic champion after only two years of practice."

Tom didn't answer, but pushed harder and ripped off his skis and tossed the poles aside before he stomped into the lodge.

"Calm down, Starfleet."

He froze in his tracks and slowly turned to the familiar voice. A woman with long blond hair stood beside the bar.

"You are Starfleet, aren't you?" She asked swirling the contents of her glass lazily.

No one he knew, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Saw you on the news stuff. Couple years ago, came home from some deep space trip, right?"

"You could say that." Tom chuckled. "It was more like a life long mission cut short."

"Oh?"

"It was supposed to take us seventy years to get back. We made it in eight." He glanced down at his wet clothes. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get changed."

"Of course." She murmured taking another sip of the liquid.

Tom rubbed his eyes wearily as he flopped down on his bed. Who was he fooling? B'Elanna's leaving him had been harder on him than anything else before in his life. He rolled over and punched the pillow beside him. Why did she have to do that to him, he wondered. After all they'd been through, she had suddenly decided she needed to be free and left him for some other guy-- or so, that's what she told his father who later relayed her message to him.

Tom stood up. It was time to go back. Time to get out of his rut of snow and back into Starfleet, if they'd have him. Throwing his personal belongings into the standard traveling case, he marched back down to the common room.

"Tom?" Merie's perfect black eyebrows came together in a question as she eyed his traveling case.

"I'm leaving." He told her quietly. "I appreciate all you've tried to do, Merie, but it's not working. You can't replace Odile or B'Elanna anymore than I can replace Hunter for you." He named her late fiancee with a twinge of sadness in his voice.

"I know." She stood on tip toe to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Tom." Her brown eyes peered up into his. "You didn't replace Hunter, but you did help me get over him."

He nodded once to acknowledge her, and then transported back to his home near HQ.

"Tommy!!" His mother came at him with open arms to which he was enveloped in almost instantaneously.

"Hi, Mom." He wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"It's so good to have you back, boy. You are staying, right?"

"Of course." He smiled down at her as he released her.

"Good. I'll call Moira and have her come for dinner. I think she can get a transport out tonight." Mrs. Paris was ticking off a quick list of things she wanted to accomplish as her youngest son followed her around the house.

"Mom, mom. I've just come back from Switzerland, not the Delta Quadrant." He protested. "You don't need to go through all this trouble."

"Don't be silly." She patted her baby on his cheek. "Run along now and go visit your father. He'll be glad to see you."

Tom fought the urge to roll his eyes. He did, after all, need to speak to his dad about being reinstated in Starfleet again.

An hour later, he stood outside his father's office. The secretary, a woman who had known Tom since he was a boy, smiled at him and greeted him warmly.

"Hello, Tom. The admiral has stepped over to Janeway-Tighe's office, but you're welcome to go inside now if you like."

"Thanks," he said stepping inside. Nothing had changed in the years since B'Elanna had left and his father had broken the news to him in this room. The pictures of noteworthy Paris' still lined the walls, his computer console hummed quietly in the background, and small replicas of the admiral's earlier ships graced a shelf near the large window.

Tom sat down at his father's chair and leaned back. Comfortable really. He smiled as he imagined himself, as an admiral-- or maybe just a vice-admiral-- giving orders and marking padds with his signature of approval. Not an unrealistic dream actually. His father would be thrilled to have a member of his generation in Starfleet again, and after all that Janeway had gone through for the Maquis, Tom had been given the option of remaining as a full lieutenant.

But, something broke in him after B'Elanna left. She had such a central part of his life for nearly eight years, and now she was gone. The idea of serving Starfleet without her had caused him so much grief and pain, he'd been forced to leave everything of that life and return to a more simpler one. One that consisted of his old girlfriend's cousin. Even though Merie and him had never become more than close friends, everyone suspected they were more.

Tom absentmindedly slid open a drawer and glanced over the contents. A few data padds. A holopicture of his family during a vacation on Mars when he was eight. A holodeck program marked "Training 2." A few data chips for sending messages. Picking up one, he turned it over in his hand. "Admiral Janeway--OP," read the markings on it. Another read, "B'Elanna Torres-- TP." Tom froze and grasped that one. He'd never written a message to B'Elanna on that.

With a cautious glance towards the door, Tom slid the chip into the computer. He gave the command for audio only, and then turned the volume down slightly.

"B'Ela," Tom was startled as his voice filled the room. "I know that what I'm about to say will come as a shock to you, but I truly feel that this is the only way."

Tom muted it quickly and glanced furiously at the markings on the case. Yes, it said he'd recorded this just after their return to the Alpha Quadrant. Narrowing his eyes, he continued.

"While we were out in the Delta Quadrant, I felt our relationship was ok to continue with. There really wasn't too much chance or hope that we'd reach home before we died. And I could live with that. It was because I knew I probably wouldn't survive the next year that I felt a relationship with you was feasible.

"But, now we're home. I have to face the music and realize that I'm not the only one here now. There's more than just your or I in our relationship. There are both of our families to be considered. I have talked at great length with my father, and I've decided that bringing a half-Klingon bride home is unacceptable. I'm sorry. But that's how it must be. Good bye."

Tom stared at the console in pure shock. He had never thought such things, much less recorded them! A sudden shock wave washed over him. B'Elanna thought he had actually said those things and was probably in pain about it!!! A sound at the door startled him. He glanced up sharply and saw his father standing there-- the impressive admiral framed by the sleek interior door.

"Where did this come from?" The younger demanded of his father, blue eyes icy cold and livid at the same time.

Owen glanced down at the case in his son's hand. "I did it for your own good, Tom," he began. "Exactly what was said on the recording is true. You don't need to be surrounded by people like her. She's not the right type of person for the Paris family line. You should have known better than to get involved with a half-breed, but since you didn't, your father was forced to cover your mistakes."

"My mistakes?" Tom leaned forward and placed his hands on the desk. "B'Elanna Torres was the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me, and you stole that happiness from me. Not to mention you hurt her! I'm not the one who made the mistake."

Owen suddenly felt like it was he who was on trial and had done something wrong. Apparently his desk was impressive enough to convey the feelings of intimidation toward even the owner. Briefly, the thought that it should be the other way around, Tom facing him as he leaned over the desk, came to mind. "Son, I don't have to answer for my actions. I did what was best for the family--"

"No!" Tom pounded a fist down on the desk making a stack of padds fall to the floor with a loud clatter. "You did what you thought was best for yourself and your image of what our family should be! Notice I said our family, Dad! It's not yours. We all have the right to decide who to marry!"

"That's quite enough, young man!" Owen roared. "I'll not have my son speaking back to me in such a way!"

"If you hadn't butted into my private affairs, I wouldn't have so much disrespect for you!" Tom protested, pushing his hands through his blondish hair.

"You'll show respect whether you feel like it or not!" Owen snapped back, thankful the door was shut so no one would hear their heated argument.

"You're wrong," Tom said in a low voice. "I came here today with the intent of rejoining Starfleet and working my way up. Now, I don't want anything to do with it."

"You can't turn your back on Starfleet." Owen seethed. "After all it's done for you, you need to serve some time." He lifted his chin slightly as he gazed at the pictures on his wall. "Maybe it'll teach you a little bit of respect." He muttered.

"I've had it!" Tom threw his hands up and glared at his father. "I'm refusing to have anything to do with Starfleet, and I want you to know something." Coming to stand so he was directly in front of his father, Tom leaned forward slightly. "B'Elanna Torres is the most wonderful woman I have ever met. My time in the Delta Quadrant was more satisfying time in my life because I shared a friendship and relationship with her that I have never had with anyone else before."

"Not a physical relationship," he snapped at the raise of his father's cocky eyebrow. "I'm talking about the trust and close friendship we shared."

"Trust and close friendship with someone so different from you is impossible," Owen snarled. "You can believe what you want, but she was probably manipulating you."

"Never," Tom's eyes flashed an unexpected shade of cobalt in his anger. "You may think you've done some wonderful deed to split us up, but you haven't." Tom turned on his heel and walked to the door. "I'm going to find her, Dad. And then you're just going to have to put up with a half-Klingon for a daughter-in-law, because I intend to make her my wife."
~* =/\= *~

Tom hoisted the sack of grain over his head carried it to the far wall. Returning to accept another sack, he toted that one also. Two weeks after the arguement with his father, he had accepted a post on a mercerany vessel. It wasn't more than five hundred feet long, but he was allowed to fly it as long as he finished his duties in the cargo hold. Wiping the sweat from his face, Tom reached for yet another bag of the grain. Flipping it over his strong shoulder, he continued to stack them against the wall.

Today was loading day. More often than not, he was only in charge of recording what they bought, what they used, and what they sold. Except on 'planet days.' Then, he was responsible for making sure everything was loaded in such a manner that he could perform his other duties without incident.

The captain of the ship, K'Wal'tak, was quite happy with his work and had asked Tom to stay on longer-- like years instead of months, but he'd refused. He was looking for someone, he told them. The instant he found her, he was gone. The other men had snickered and ribbed each other knowingly, but had yet to tease him about his searching for B'Elanna.

"Hey, who's in charge here!"

Tom lifted his head from where he'd bent over a data padd. "That'd be me." He told the Bolian. "What can I do for you?"

"This." The man forced Tom to take another data padd. "That's what we're getting."

Glancing over it, he recognized the usual trade items. Food, a few weapons, materials, some fineries. "Right this way," he told the alien and began to lead him around the room while pointing out what they needed and having his men gather it into a corner of the room. "There," he picked up a crate of Terran tomatoes. "That's the last thing." Before the man could leave, Tom placed a hand on his arm. "One more thing, I'd like to ask."

"Make it fast."

"I'm looking for someone. A half-Klingon, half-human woman named B'Elanna Torres. She's an engineer and I have reason to believe she's out in this area."

"What happened? She got your kid?" The Bolian grinned at him. "Or does she owe you money?"

"Neither. My father tore us apart.

The Bolian's forehead rose in the equilavent of raising his eyebrows. "I see. Well, I think I may be able to help you."

Tom's heart skipped a beat. "You can?"

"Met a woman engineer about two months ago." He frowned suddenly, then nodded. "She was on the La'moueth, a ship we revendoused with for a few hours."

"For a few hours? And you remember her?" Tom asked in bewilderment.

"Let's just say she made quite an impression on me. I don't know why you want to find her. She's quite a fiesty one." He shrugged, "If provoked."

Tom drew in a deep breath. "She can be, yes. That's one of the things I love about her." He narrowed his eyes. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing! I swear it!" He took a step back. "It's more like what she did to me!" Lowering the neckline of his civilian clothes, Tom could see five angry scars down his neck.

"Yep, that's my B'Ela." He grinned. "And you say she's not far from here?"

"Now, I never said that. This is about two months ago that I saw her."

"Thanks. You don't know how much I appreciate it."

The Bolian turned. "I think I do know. And good luck."

Tom stared out the window of mess hall. He wasn't lucky enough to have his own view port in the room he shared with three other men, and this secluded chair in the mess hall was his only haven. It was here he came to think about B'Elanna or to record his personal logs, a habit Starfleet and Captain Janeway had instilled in him and he still practiced. Tonight, his logs lay beside a forgotten peice of chocolate cake as he gazed out at the stars.

The blinking of blue and red lights indicated that they were not alone out here. Only a few light years away other ships and other crews that spoke his language and knew his customs were enjoying their own evenings.

After eight years in the Delta Quadrant, the idea of another ship in such close proximity seemed alien to him. He figured it was an alient notion to everyone from their crew. He'd run into Neelix while still on Earth and had been informed of the get together that was being planned. Before they'd left the ship, he would have laughed. Tom had been eager to get home and show B'Elanna off to his family and settle down to start their own family and life. Now, he wished he was anywhere but the Alpha Quadrant. Preferrably on some tiny planet in the Delta Quadrant with all of the people he had served with. One thing was certain, he would still have B'Elanna if they were.

"Captain to Paris. Please report to my office."

Tom heaved a sigh and stood. He probably hadn't done the report up to standards, or something equally life threatening.

K'Wal'tak didnt' look up as Tom entered the room.

"Sir?"

"Sit down. Sit down." K'Wal'tak scribbled his stamp on a padd and then looked at the younger man. "I've been pleased with your work, Paris. But, the time has come for me to relocate you to another ship."

Tom jumped up. "Absolutely not!" He exclaimed. "You're the only one who could possibly understand my search for B'Elanna."

"Tom, it's because of B'Elanna that I'm letting you go." K'Wal'tak stood up and rounded the desk. "The ship you're going to is the La'moueth."

The reaction of the dumbstruck pilot amused K'Wal'tak. He chucked and pushed Paris back into a seat. "Close your jaw, Tom."

Tom snapped his jaw shut. "You found her?"

"Well, we found the Alpha Quadrant equilvalent." K'Wal'tak told him referring to Tom's habit of calling stuff the 'Delta Quadrant equilvant.'

"How much longer?"

"About two days."

"These are going to be the longest two days of my life."

B'Elanna Torres slithered back under the console. It was one of those days. She thought that after Voyager had come back to the AQ, she would be rid of days that it seemed nothing would work right. She was wrong.

Today, it was the Ops console which was giving her problems. After three straight days of working, she was getting extremely tired, cranky, and- was that leola root she smelled??-- add delusional to the list. Reaching out, she found the microphaser right beside her. Adjusting the setting, she fused the two wires together and then hollared up to whoever was above her. "Hit the yellow activate button now!"

"Yes ma'am."

B'Elanna nearly hit her head on the underside of the console as she jumped. Then, she froze. Was she hearing things as well as smelling things?? Scrambling from out beneath the console, she found herself staring directly into Tom's baby blue eyes. Dusting off her brown pants and green tank as she stood up, she glared at him. "What are you doing here? Get dumped by some Starfleet girl and decide to slum with your old girlfriends?"

Tom felt like he'd been punched in the stomach. "B'Elanna! No! I swear, I didn't have anything to do with my father's talking to you!"

"Sure, you didn't have anything to do with it," she scoffed. "And just where you when he decided to talk to me about your little discussion the night before?" The feelings and memories she had tried to put behind her came rushing over her as she turned back to the console's face. "You were in France with someone named Merie."

Tom flinched as she spat the words at him. "B'Elanna, hang on. Listen to me-"

"No." She whipped around to face him, the ends of her hair flarring out as she spun. "You listen to me, Thomas Eugene Paris. I've had enough of your little games. While we were out there, I thought I meant something to you. Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. Maybe I was just another girl to amuse yourself with. However you want to call it, we're over. Done. Through. However that worked out when we got back, I dont' care to hear your excuses. You've had two years to work on them, and I'm sure you've got some great ones by now. Go entertain the gossip mills. You were always good at that."

Tom gawked as B'Elanna turned back to her console. Did she really think that?! Apparently so. Or, maybe not. Tom watched as a shudder ran down her back, followed by another one. She was crying, he realized. Taking a step towards her, he touched her shoulder. She tried to pull away, but failed. He pulled her full back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her small waist.

"Tom, don't." She begged trying to escape his embrace.

"B'Ela." He buried his face in her hair and breathed in the scent of her shampoo. "Please, listen to what I have to say."

"Tom, don't."

"Look." Releasing one of his arms around her middle, he pulled a data chip out of his pocket. "I believe you saw this a few years ago." He tried to keep the anger out of his voice, but failed miserably. "My father and I had a talk that night, that much is true. It was about the ship. About some of the aliens we hand encountered and some of the regulations that were broken. Not about us. He took it upon himself to make a recording of his voice, altered to be mine, which you heard. When I got back, I was told that you had decided to leave me." His voice faltered then and he stopped speaking. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I didn't find out what had happened until I perchanced to glance through his desk drawers and find the chip. We had an arguement, and...."

"And you came after me." She finished softly.

"Yeah. I hope you'll have me back."

She turned around and regarded him with serious, brown eyes. "I think it's the other way around." She said, her chin quiverng slightly. "You have to decide if you want me back. I'm the one who lost her temper and ran out on you, don't forget. I should have stayed and talked it over with you."

"No." Tom folded his arms around her and held her tight. "If it had been true, then there would be no reason for you to wait for me."

"I'm just glad I did." She closed her eyes against the tears of pure joy. "And, if this is a lie, it's one I don't want to find out about."

"It's not," he promised her as he met her lips to seal their commitment with a kiss.

Admiral Janeway-Tighe laid the padd to the side with a sigh of relief. That was the last one. It was almost 2300 hours and she was finally free to go home. Gathering the array of coffee mugs littering her desk, Kathryn quickly deposited them in the replicator's recycle mode and escaped the confines of her Starfleet office.

Truth be told, Kathryn detested this planet life and her job. The feeling of having completed anything was gone, and with them, the emotions of exploring uncharted space. For eight years, she had woken to every new day in a quadrant she knew virtually nothing about. The day itself was an adventure to see if they would survive and what new aliens may be presented. Here in the Alpha Quadrant, Janeway knew she would go to HQ, attend meaningless meetings, work until she was done, and return home to an empty house. More often than not, Justin was assigned to a space mission that would take him from Earth for weeks at a time. Once in a great while, Kathryn's job would required her to leave Earth. But even then, the farthest she had been was Mars twice and DS9 once.

"Computer, lights off." Janeway left her office with the intent of going home to an empty house and climbing into the large, lonely bed for a short night of sleep before returning to work the next day. It was not meant to be.

Kathryn entered her security code into the computer and then stepped through the front door. Even in the darkness she could make out the model of Voyager which graced her coffee table. She smiled at it. If she could be anywhere in the universe, it would be on board that ship in another quadrant.

Noises from the bedroom alerted her sense. Freezing in place, she prepared to fight off any intruder.

The silhouette of a man taller than herself came into view around the corner. Without hesitating, Janeway sprung at him.

The force of her body sent them both crashing to the floor as he gave a short gasp at being caught in surprise. Quickly, he began to fight back, but those precious few seconds of confusion was all Janeway needed to gain an advantage. Before the intruder could guess her intentions, he was locked in Kathryn's iron grip.

But, she was not as strong as he was. Wrenching out of her arms, Kathryn felt her fingernails rake over his skin as she was tossed against a table. Scrambling back to him, Janeway attempted to use a Vulcan nerve pinch, but her opponent escaped and pinned her on her back to the floor. With her arms pressed down over her head and the man sitting on her stomach, she had no where to go.

"You have three seconds to get out of my house before I alert the law." Janeway spat out in a last ditch effort.

"Lights!" A woman's voice called sharply.

Janeway gasped in shock as she stared up in the 'intruder's' face.

"Justin!" Her shocked quickly turned to anger. "Get off me!"

"If you were going to have other women here, why didn't you tell me?"

Janeway twisted her head towards the voice. A dark haired woman clad in only a red satin nightgown pouted at them.

Justin's face blushed the same shade of the robe as he climbed off his wife. "Eliza, go back to the room."

Kathryn scrambled to her feet and cast a withering glare at her husband's lover. Chakotay was right, she thought to herself. After all these years, he'd been right. The younger woman cowered slightly under Janeway's penetrating glare as she slipped back to the room.

"Wait a minute!" Kathryn stepped towards the bedroom door and blocked it. "This is my house! I want you out! Now!"

"Justin?" the woman turned a pitiful glance on him.

"Maybe it would be best," he agreed. "I'll see you on the ship."

Eliza picked up her communicator lying on the table beside Voyager and called for a beam out directly to her quarters.

Justin watched her go and then turned to Kathryn. "Are you happy now?" he demanded. "You've just humiliated me in front of a crew mate!"

"Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you brought your lovers home!" Kathryn spat back.

"I have a right to this house!" Justin's eyes shot fire from them.

"Not to bring your affairs home when we're married!"

"I'll do whatever I please, Kathryn Janeway, and don't you forget it!"

"I can see that now!" She shot back. "And here I thought you were trying to make this marriage work!"

"I stopped trying after the honeymoon," Justin took a step closer. "Face it, Kathryn, you've been living in a dream world for two and a half years. And now, your dream is over. I want a divorce."

"On what grounds?!"

"On the grounds that I don't love you!" he shouted. "You know this wont' work and still try to make it. No more, Kathryn. I'm tired of the games. We're over!"

Kathryn didn't move a muscle as he beamed back to his ship.

A divorce. The words didn't mean anything yet except that he was leaving her for a scrawny excuse of a woman.

Her father would be so disappointed. With a start, Kathryn realized that her father's disappointment would distress her more than Justin's leaving. Well, that's true love for you, she snorted before lying down on the couch.

Dear Chakotay,
I've said it before in my letters and I'll say it again. I'm sorry for accusing you of attempting to ruin my relationship with Justin. Much as it has hurt me, you were right about him. I'm sure you'll hear about this through all the news mediums, but I wanted to confirm it. After knowing you as long as I have, and going through everything that we have together, it only seemed right. Yes, we are getting a divorce. I'm not saying I'll welcome a relationship with you, but I do hope you'll consider a friendship.
Kathryn
Admiral K. Janeway-Tighe
Stardate: 56493.25
Starfleet Headquarters: Terra Earth

"Computer, send message."

The doors to her office slid open with a gentle swish. Janeway looked up quickly; as she did, the smile slipped off her face.

"What are you doing here?"

Justin visibly flinched at her icy tone. "I came to apologize," he answered pulling a red rose from behind his back.

"There's nothing to apologize for," Kathryn glared at the rose. "You were right. I have been living in a fantasy world. The dream is over though. Now, please. Leave."

"Kathryn," Justin laid the rose on the her desk and took a seat. "I'm sorry for what I said last night. It was out of my anger at being caught." He shook his head and met her eyes. "I had a lot of time to think last night. I don't want to end our marriage and I can't tell you how sorry I am that I said I did. I want to start over. To make this work."

Kathryn gazed at the man before her. He had apologized. And even if he'd slipped once, shouldn't she forgive and see if they could put it behind them? Her father had always taught her that. Her father. If they announced a divorce, he'd be crushed. She could put up with trying to get Justin to work on tehir marrige, even if it meant suffering herself. She couldn't let her father find out. It would crush him.

"All right, Justin," she said. "Against my better judgment, I'll give it another try. On one condition."

"Which is?"

"We both work at it."

"This time we will," he promised. "Also," the teasing glint she had missed found its way back into this eyes. "Do you want to come to a convention with me on Denktar IV? I'll have to go to some meetings, but we could have a couple of days for ourselves."

Kathryn smiled. Things were defiantly looking up. A willing husband and some times in space before a vacation. "Sure."

Kathryn felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach as she boarded the Integrity. It was a ship much smaller than Voyager, but none the less, it was a ship. Forcing the grin off her face, she rested her right hand on Justin's uniformed sleeve and briefly touched the five golden pips at her throat. If she wasn't careful, she was going to come off more excited than she had been on her first trip to Mars so many years ago. That would certainly be something for the gossip mills of the Federation ships- Admiral Janeway-Tighe bursts into giggles in the middle of a corridor. No, defiantly not what she wanted to color her career with.

Justin's fingers brushed over hers lightly as he cast a smile on her. "You look a mite bit excited." He whispered.

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Oh?"

"Not really. I just felt like saying it."

She gave his arm a slight squeeze as they continued to their quarters for the short trip.

"Kay, I don't need you. I don't need your friendship. I don't need your love. I don't care if you need me. Get out of my life." The dark haired man with a tattoo over his left eye turned his back on her. Kathryn felt a wave of loneliness wash over her.

"No Chakotay! Don't do this to me!" She shouted.

With a start, Kathryn's eyes popped open and she stared at the stars streaking past her window. Had it been a dream? An awful dream? She closed her eyes and burrowed deeper into her pillow. She had dreamed she'd gone back to the Alpha Quadrant and had married Justin and had fought with Chakotay. Opening her eyes again, she felt comfort at the stars streaking past. A sense of dread filled her stomach as she looked at the window. The walls seemed to be more of a cream color as opposed to the gray in her quarters. What was wrong? A movement in the bed next to her sent her flying out of it.

"Kathryn?"

She nearly fainted as her memories rushed back at her full force. It hadn't been an awful nightmare. She was married to Justin, and Chakotay hated her.

"I'm fine." Cautiously, she climbed back into bed and slid below the covers.

"I know you are." His hot breath whispered teasingly against her ear. Drawing her into his embrace, Justin settled her head against his shoulder and drifted back off to sleep.

But, Kathryn couldn't sleep. She felt guilty lying in Justin's arms while her thoughts were straying towards Chakotay, but she couldn't help the trail of her thoughts. Where was he? Was he safe? Was he in the middle of another war? Had he fallen in love again? Married even? What about children? He had seemed the type of man who'd want them, did he finally have them? A soft sob rose in Kathryn's throat. Twisting around, she freed herself of her husband's grasp and rolled over to her side of the bed. Burying her face in her pillow, she softly allowed the tears to flow for her friends who had become her family. Where were they all now? Had everyone gone on with their lives, or were they finding it as difficult as she was?

She didn't know when she'd drifted off to sleep, but the next thing Kathryn knew, Justin was gently shaking her.

"Wake up, sleepy head." He teased.

"No. It' too early." She protested into her pillow.

"And to think you were up at 0600 every morning for over eight years!" Justin laughed pulling her pillow from beneath her head.

Janeway groaned as her head thumped on the bed, then, knowing what was next, she pulled the blankets tightly around her.

But, not tight enough, she found out as Justin unmercifully ripped them off the bed to leave her body assaulted by the freezing air.

"Ohh!" she curled into a fetal position on the bed and whimpered at him. "You're an awful man, Captain."

"Why, thank you, Admiral." He bent down and bestowed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll meet you in the mess hall in twenty minutes. Be there or you can clean the warp coils."

She knew she should send back a retort, but couldn't summon up the strength. Too tired....too tired............

"Janeway, come in please. Janeway? Admiral?"

Kathryn fought through the fog in her head and wondered why someone was calling her using that old jargon. "Janeway here." She answered slapping the comm badge on her night table.

"Get out of bed, Kathryn."

Of course, so she wouldn't know instantly that it was Justin. "Take a long walk off a short pier, Captain." Closing the comm link, she rolled over and pulled herself from the bed. It wasn't as comfortable as it had been a few hours earlier.

After a quick shower and pulling on her uniform, Kathryn sat down at the computer console. There was still one last piece of unfinished business she had to do. Calling up a new form for a letter, she prepared to inform Captain Chakotay of her latest bit of news-- Justin and her were going to work things out.

Alien sunlight streamed through their bedroom windows and played out an intricate design on the thickly carpeted floor. A light breeze ruffled Kathryn's hair as she opened the window to admit the fresh morning air of the planet into their room. Despite the beauty surrounding her, Kathryn was frowning.

"You have a meeting today?"

"Yep." Justin pretended not to notice the disappointed look crossing the visage of his wife. "I'll be in conferences until about three o'clock."

"This is the fourth day in a row." Kathryn complained at him and briefly wondered why she was not required to attend them. 'Captain's only.' Justin had told her when she'd asked. 'Stuff about flying a ship and that aspect of diplomatics.' She'd probably already attended them and would be bored. In all honesty, Janeway was getting sick of lying around the pool and working on her tan. There were only so many gothic novels she could stand to read over and over again and she was already burnt by the sun.

"I know. But, I'll see you later, hon." Justin dropped a kiss on her cheek and headed for the door.

"Justin?"

He turned.

"What about meeting you on those bluffs overlooking the ocean at three thirty?" Janeway offered. "I'll bring us a late lunch and we can eat it up there."

"Perfect." He smiled back at her and left.

Janeway dropped down on a chair with a sigh. What was she to do until then? Pressing hesitantly on her red skin, she decided that another day at the pool was out. And, that included using any of the out door tennis courts also.

Suddenly, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She hadn't done any hiking since New Earth, and she found herself desperately missing being outside. After all, hiking in a holodeck and on an alien planet were two very different things. And, this way she could be outside hiking in the forests while avoiding the direct sunlight. Why, she could even explore the bluffs before Justin reached them.

Sliding into her bathing suit and then an outfit suitable for hiking, she grabbed a small pack and filled it with a few provisions. Slowing her stride down to a brisk walk, she headed for the door and left the large Starfleet accommodations building.

The temperature seemed to drop almost instantly as she stepped into the woods. A few birds chirped in the trees at her as she followed a winding path through the dense vegetation. The vines were weighed down with blossoms of purple and white. A sweet, unrecognizable scent hung in the air from the flowers. Avoiding a large stone in the path, Janeway continued to walk for a few hours. The path went from straight and level terrain to a nearly upright climb. Pushing both arms through the straps of the pack, she dropped to her knees to make the mount easier.

There! She could see the sky breaking through the trees. She must be nearly to the top of the cliffs over looking the ocean now. If it wasn't too far, she'd like to dive into the water. Not knowing the terrain caused her to use extreme caution though. With a least breathless huff, Janeway pulled herself over the edge of the bluff and found herself starring at the most shocking site she could imagine.

She had expected to find a clearing, about four meters by seven meters. A few bushes scattered around. Soft green grass and sand making up the floor of the bluff. All of that was there. But, in the middle, she found Justin and a blond haired woman curled up together.

"Justin!!" Her voice cracked through the stillness with a shout of anger.

His head snapped up quickly. "Kathryn!?" He stared at her in shock and then pulled back from the blond and advanced towards his wife. "What are you doing here?" He demanded, his Starfleet jacket flapping in the wind that had sprung up.

"What am I doing here?!" She took a step back as though she'd been slapped. "I should be asking you the same question!"

"What does it look like?" The wind ruffled his dark curls that Kathryn had once found so endearing.

"It looks like you've found someone else." Kathryn spat at him, her eyes flashing an angry cobalt color.

"Very good, Kathryn." He turned away for a moment. Both were silent. What was there left to be said? "I can't do this anymore. I can't keep trying to pretend to love you when I don't."

Janeway felt her stomach sink. This was it then. The divorce would continue. "Tell me this, Justin. Why? Why would you keep pretending?"

"Why!?" he glared at her beneath ice blue eyes. "Because. I owed it to your father. While we were in that prison, he kept talking about you and me and how much he wanted us to be together. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'd fallen out of love with you. When we came back, I was relieved that you'd been lost." He laughed coldly at her. "Imagine that, Kath, I was happy you were gone. Yet, I was forcing myself to act sad."

She finally met his eyes. The look her crew had nicknamed "Ice Queen Janeway" was written across her face. "Fine. You married me because of my father. Good. Now, get out of my life."

"No, wait." Justin felt a shiver run through him at her glare despite the warm sun overhead. "You want to know the rest of it?" He took a step back and offered a hand to the woman still kneeling on the ground. "I've been involved with other women ever since we got to that prison. Your father was just too blind to see it. And then, when we got home, it was even easier to hide with my being in space so much."

"Don't ever say that again." Janeway was doing her best to keep her temper under control, but failing miserably. "My father means the world to me, don't ever say that he's easily duped or gullible."

"Ok, I won't. But, he is." Justin grinned easily. "So are you. Though, marrying you wasn't the worst that could happen. After all, it did look good for me to be married to an admiral."

Smack!! Janeway's hand connected soundly with the side of Justin's face.

"What'd you do that for!?" He roared.

"I think you know." She answered in a low voice. "And if you don't, you can ask my father."

"You'll pay for that, woman!" He snapped at her. "Somehow or another, you'll pay."

"I don't care." She angrily brushed a strand of brownish-red hair from her face where it kept playing in her eyes. "There's nothing you can do to me now. Take my house, whatever you want, it doesn't matter to me. Nothing in this quadrant means anything to me!"

"That's it." A light suddenly went on in Justin's eyes. "That man who was there when your father and I first met you. You're in love with the big oaf."

"Chakotay is more of a gentleman than you'll ever be." Janeway took a menacing step towards him as he took a step back, dangerously close to the edge of the bluff and the crashing waves beneath. Suddenly, raw fear surged through her body. "Justin, be careful. Don't take a step back."

"Why should I listen to you?! You certainly don't care what happens to me!" Justin threw his hands up with a laugh and took a step back.

Janeway and the blond woman watched in horror as Justin's foot missed the edge and he plummeted over the side of the cliff. It seemed to go on in slow motion. Both rushed to the edge and Kathryn knelt down so she too wouldn't fall over. Justin was tumbling and turning head over heels as he fell to the crashing waves below. She turned away just as his limp body hit the rocks, but could still hear the sickening thud indicating that there was no chance of his survival.

Kathryn backed away in shock as she and the woman stared at one another.

"I can't believe he did that." The woman whispered, tucking a strand of pale blond hair behind her ear and holding back a choked sob.

"I can't either." Janeway felt her heart sink at the unnecessary death-- even if he had been planning on divorcing her, she still didn't wish his death.

Kathryn laid the tiny rose bud on the ground before the stone and then placed both hands on her knees. "Hello, Justin. It's only been a year, but I felt that I should come back today." She hesitated, feeling funny talking to a grave stone, then continued. "I've gone on, as you obviously wanted me to. Starfleet looked on your death as accidental since both Laurel and I made the same statements and stuck by the same claims. I'm sure that wherever you are, you're as stubborn and ruthless as you were the day you died."

Kathryn looked down at her hands and felt silly. She was talking to the grave of her late husband, but he'd declared he'd wanted a divorce only minutes before he'd died. "This is silly of me." She finally said. "I don't know why I'm here except that I felt it was my responsibility to come. After all, the divorce was never final and to everyone's knowledge, we got along just fine. Everyone except your lovers, of course."

The bitterness she thought she'd left behind began to creep into her voice. "Why'd you have to do that, Justin? If you hadn't, you may still be alive today and we could have had a nice life."

She leaned back on her heels and allowed the memories of the funeral to wash over her. Everyone had been so sympathetic. It'd been a marked occasion within the upper Starfleet circles. After all, he was an admiral's husband-- even if he was just a captain. A few of her old friends had been there- Tuvok, Neelix, Tom and B'Elanna. The majority were too far away to be called on at such short notice. And the main person she wanted there, Chakotay, had been on a deep space mission for the past two years. He'd never read her letters, that she knew of. She had checked daily after they'd fought, then weekly, then a few times a month. Now, it'd been over two months since she'd looked to see if he'd written or even looked at it. He hadn't.

A bit of loneliness edged into her heart as she brushed a blade of grass from the smooth headstone. Justin had been buried on Earth, at Admiral Edward Janeway's wish. This way, his daughter could at least keep up the appearance of being a mourning widow. Starfleet was so much about appearances, she'd found out. Never being one to pretend, Kathryn had found herself thrust into the role of an actress-- and unwilling actress.

A twig snapped behind her. She felt the wind rustle her hair as it carried the slight scent of spice and pine on it. She breathed in deeply, awed. She had thought that smell was lost to her forever. Another twig snapped. She knew who was behind her even though he was supposed to be light years away.

"You never did make a good Indian scout." She finally whispered. "You couldn't even start a campfire."

Silence. Slowly, she turned around and found his gaze on her. The hair was still as black as ever, yet gray was beginning to show at his temples. His large hands were hidden where he'd clasped them behind his back. His uniform, crisp and neat, sported four shiny gold pips at the collar-- all of them Starfleet. Brown eyes held hers easily as her own blue eyes flitted up to take in the tattoo over his left eye.

"You didn't come back." She whispered turning back- hurt, confused.

"I just found out." Chakotay answered softly as he came forward. "I'm sorry, Kathryn."

She shrugged as though it didn't matter. "I don't know how long you were standing there, you probably know all of it."

He lowered his eyes. "I do. Because you sent those letters."

"You finally read them?"

A smile played on his lips. "Finally. A....friend.....from a long time ago showed up. She tried to convince me to read them just after I left you again. But, I wouldn't listen. Before she left my ship, she nearly threatened to hunt me down if I didin't read your letters. I would choose to do it while I'm trapped on a deep space mission though. I couldn't get back for over a month. We only docked an hour ago."

She stood up to her full height- and found herself staring at his chin. "I've missed you." She said simply, pulling her eyes up to meet his.

Chakotay took the invitation, though Janeway wasn't sure she had issued it, and enveloped her in a hug. "I've missed you too." He whispered into her hair.

"You did what?!" Kathryn grabbed the arms of her chair in an effort to stay put. She succeeded, but tears were streaming down her cheeks as she laughed out loud.

"I told him quite simply he'd taken his classes in the wrong quadrant, and to kindly step aside." Chakotay rolled his eyes at his former captain. "I don't get these admiral types. They know everything and think they have rank over me on my ship!"

Kathryn gulped in a large breath. Thinking she was calming down, she took one look at Chakotay and burst out laughing again. The very image of Owen Paris facing a dozen hostile alien ships while on the bridge of an experienced explorer brought laughter bubbling through her very being.

Chakotay smiled softly at her. "I love to hear you laugh." He finally said.

Her eyes flew to meet his. Guarded. Yet, curious. Chakotay finally looked away. "Well, Admiral, I think I'd better get going. I have a mission that begins tomorrow and I've got to get at least one good night's sleep."

Janeway's startled eyes found the chronometer on her desk. 0130. "Oh my!" She jumped up. "I need to get out of here too. I've got to be back at 0700 in order to get some reports read." She poked him playfully in the ribs. "See what happens when you distract admirals?"

"Same thing that happens when I distracted the captain, if memory serves me right." Chakotay laughed at her. "We did spend some long nights up talking. It's a wonder we made it back on our feet instead of asleep in our chairs."

"It's a wonder we made it back at all!"

"No. We had a great team." We were a great team. The words were unsaid, but both felt them.

Kathryn smiled at him warmly. "Well now, Captain. It would seem that you should have about three padds on your desk-- and another dozen on the floor. A couple messages from HQ on your console and maybe one or two diagnostic readings also. Of course, Starfleet will expect all of your work done before you leave. You've got a long time before you get a good night's sleep."

"Aye, aye, Admiral." He bent and kissed her cheek briefly before turning to leave her office. At the door, he suddenly spun back and poked his head in. "Hey, Kay, it's not too late to elope with a handsome former Maquis captain. What do you say?"

Kathryn's voice echoed throughout the fourth floor of HQ as the laughter of her former XO resounded. "SCOUNDREL!"

"Admiral? Admiral?" The gentle hand shaking her shoulder forced Kathryn to wake up.

"Wha'?" she blinked rapidly, her voice slurred with sleep.

"You fell asleep."

"I what?" Kathryn sat up straight and stared at her only friend of the past few years-- her secretary. "I'm sorry, is there someone who needs to see me?"

"No." Natalia pulled up a chair and sat before her 'boss.' "Kathryn, if I may say so, you look awful."

Kathryn allowed a rueful smile to cross her features. "Thanks."

"I'm serious." Natalia leaned forward and peered at her friend. "I've known you for only three years, but you've never lost this much weight, been this pale, or this sullen. What happened? It's not Justin's death, I know, because you were fine after that. No, it was about a year after all that occurred."

Kathryn shook her head and glanced to the pictures on her desk. She had left one picture of Justin there, because it was expected, but the other half dozen were pictures of her friends from Voyager. Almost everyone featured herself and Chakotay.

"Is it him?" Natalia turned the picture of Kathryn and Chakotay on New Earth over in her hands. "Quite a handsome man, really. What's his name?"

"Chakotay. My first officer."

A small smile played over Natilia's lips. "You fell in love with him, didn't you?"

Kathryn looked out of the window for a moment. When she turned back, Natalia was smiling widely at her.

"Your silence is enough. Why don't you go to him? Or write him?"

"I never knew I was in love with him." Kathryn admitted softly. "And now, he's half way to the other side of the galaxy. Month long mission."

"Fine. When he comes back, you marry him."

Kathryn's head snapped up. "I can't just marry him like that, Natalia. We served as captain and first officer together. Captains do not fall in love with senior officers. Much less first officers!"

"Like Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher?"

Janeway's head fell to the desk. "Yes, like them." She moaned.

"Think about it. Then, follow your heart." Natalia stood up. "On the other hand, what have you got to lose? Your career? Even if you did, I have a feeling that this career of yours is simply an act. You hate it."

The doors swished shut behind Natalia as she left for her own desk and work. "Yes, I do hate it." Kathryn whispered, an idea forming in her mind.

Those four weeks felt like some of the longest in Kathryn's life. She went to HQ every morning at promptly 0730 and sat at her desk until her work was completed. Finding a way to avoid coming home before 2300 seemed to take priority over everything in her life. Kathryn managed to submerge herself so deeply in her work that her family was quietly edged out of the picture.

Other admirals and vice-admirals raved about Janeway-Tighe's ambition. Captains complimented her politely at her ability to get anything and everything done. Her father was proud that she was honoring the Janeway Starfleet tradition. And Natalia did her best to encourage her to eat and come out of her office once in a while.

This particular evening was a Sunday. She didn't have any work to be caught up on, and, dreading the silence of her home, she had wandered to the park. Now, Kathryn sat on a bench off to the side as she watched people stroll by. Mostly couples, she noted with a sadness. Laughing couples. Old couples walking slowly with the aid of their canes or each other's arms. Young married couples with a baby in their arms or tiny tots scampering around their ankles. Teenage couples with arms wrapped around the other as they stared dreamily into each other's eyes. Janeway felt her heart constrict in an ache she didn't' realize was still there after so many years. She needed someone to love her and someone to love.

"Kathryn?! Kathryn Janeway!?" a man's call brought her out of her dream state and back to the 24th century.

"Can I help you?" She asked, confused as to who the man was. He looked familiar, dark black hair and blue eyes the color of the sky, but she couldn't place him.

"It's me. Cheb Packer."

Her gaze turned slightly icy at the mention of her old boyfriend. They had not parted on the best of terms and Janeway was not prepared to allow him back in her life as anything. Not even a friend. "Can I help you?"

"Kathryn," Cheb sat down beside her. "It's me. You know me." He looked down at his hands. "Look, I'm sorry for everything that happened between us before." He looked up at her and met those beautiful blue eyes he'd fallen in love with thirty years ago. "I just wanted you to know."

Kathryn's gaze softened. "Thanks, Cheb." She didn't offer any excuse or apology-- she had not been in the wrong.

"I heard about your little adventure."

"My little....? Well, I suppose you would call it that."

"What do you call it?"

"The best years of my life." The words were blurted out before she could take them back.

"Oh."

The sat in silence for a while, each content with his or her own thoughts and slightly uncomfortable in the other's presence.

"I need to be going," Kathryn stood quickly. "Nice seeing you again, Cheb. Bye." Not giving him a chance to speak, she quickly left him.

"You need a break!"

"I've got to finish this."

Natalia tried to pull the console away. "Kathryn, you've been working on that for the past six hours. Starfleet will allow you to take a break and eat something."

"No."

"Kathryn-"

"You heard the woman." A deep baritone voice interrupted Natalia from the door. "And I'll be the first one to concur that you can't force Captain Janeway to do anything against her will."

Kathryn gasped as her head snapped up. Chakotay leaned against the door frame, arms folded across his chest.

"Chakotay!" With a small cry she jumped out of the chair and came to stand before him. "How have you been? How as the trip?" She asked softly without stepping into his arms.

"I'm tired and lonely and the trip was productive." He closed the distance between them and enveloped her in his arms. "I missed you too." He admitted softly. She was so thin, was his first thought as he held her close to himself. Gaunt was a better description.

"I missed your company too." She smiled against his shoulder.

Chakotay simply laughed softly at her and tangled his fingers in her hair. "How have you been?"

"She's working herself to death!" Natalia burst in. "It's a good thing you got here or else I was going to have to call you myself. Maybe you can force this woman to eat something and take proper care of herself."

Chakotay snorted in laughter. "I doubt it. I tried for eight years."

With some regret, Kathryn pulled herself from Chakotay's arms and nodded toward the door for Natalia.

"Take care of her." Natalia whispered to Chakotay as she left the room.

Kathryn took a seat in front of her desk and motioned for Chakotay to do the same. "Tell me all about your trip."

"I have a better idea. Tell me why you've been overworking yourself." Chakotay stretched his long body over the chair and yawned. "Excuse me, I've been up for three days straight trying to get back."

"Three days?" Janeway touched his arm in concern. "You need to get some sleep, Chakotay. We can have this conversation anytime."

"Kay, what was the longest you went without any sleep?" When she refused to meet his eyes he nodded. "Exactly. Let me have my say here. Do you have any coffee?"

"Coffee?" Janeway's brow furrowed at the sudden shift in conversation.

"Yeah, coffee. You know, that tiny little bean you're responsible for hooking me on."

Kathryn laughed as she dialed up two coffees in the replicator. "Here you go. Nice and hot, with two sugars."

"Thanks." Chakotay took a long sip and closed his eyes to savor the taste.

"Your say?"

"What?"

"You were saying that you wanted to have your say."

"Yeah." Chakotay fumbled with the coffee mug. He'd prepared for this, but wasn't sure he wanted to broach the subject with her. Not now. Not in this condition. Both of them were over worked, under nourished, over tired, and under pressure. Well, no time like the present.

"While I was out there, I was reminded of just how lonely it was for you to be at the top." Chakotay began. "I remember how you had no one of equal rank to talk to or rely on. I've found myself experiencing that too." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I know my proposal goes against everything Starfleet stands for, but please hear me out. I wanted to ask you if you'd take a demotion to 'captain' and serve as another captain on my ship." At Janeway's raised eyebrows he hurried on, "Kay, we work best as a team. If nothing else, we've see what being apart does to us. Look at us now." He gave a short laugh. "Now that I've seen you and know you're safe, I could sleep for a week."

"Don't tempt me." Janeway took another sip of her own coffee. "I have a good mind to activate the doctor and a hypospray and have him give you a good sedative."

Chakotay laughed at her. At least she wasn't turning his idea down completely...yet. "As far as I can see," he continued. "The positives outweigh the negatives in the case of having two captains on board one ship."

Janeway didn't say anything for a long moment. Unclasping her hands from around her silver mug, she rubbed one over the smooth metal of her standard Starfleet chair. "I agree." She finally said.

Chakotay's head snapped up in surprise. "You do?"

"Yes," she paused for a moment. "In our case. I don't think it would be wise to put two captains together who have never served with one another."

"True. True."

"Of course," her eyes twinkled as she moved to sit behind her desk. "This could all be a devious plot to win me over to your side."

"Could be." Chakotay's dimples began to show as he tried his best to hide a smile. "Or, I could just be lonely for the best friend I've ever had."

Janeway was silent for a moment as her long fingers danced lightly over her console. "I know just the ship too." Swinging the console around to face Chakotay, he was supplied with an image of a star ship.

Confusion settled in his eyes for a moment, then understanding dawned on him. "Perfect." Standing, he backed towards the door. "I'll get some final papers ready for myself and some other crew members. You take care of the reports and data files up here."

"Agreed." Janeway turned her console back to her and began entering information into a new file.

"Hey, Kay?"

She looked up to where Chakotay had paused in the door.

"For old time's sake, want to elope with a Maquis officer? There's still plenty of time before our ship leaves."

Kathryn took a long sip of coffee as Chakotay bestowed his dimples on her and started to turn around. "Yes."

Chakotay froze in the door way. "What did you say?"

"I said 'yes.' Provided you'll still have me, I'll marry you."

Chakotay turned around and forced his mouth to close. "Provided I'll still.....? Kathryn? Of course I do!"

Janeway stood from her seat at the desk and quickly went to stand before him. "One condition."

Chakotay stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her, refusing to believe this was a dream.

"We do elope. I don't want a fancy wedding with all of the Starfleet glitter. I'm sick of it. And, if we're about to become outlaws, I'd rather not have all the fancy people at our wedding."

"Wish granted." Chakotay whispered brushing his lips over hers.

"And to your left, you can see the conference room." Harry stopped just outside the door where a level two force field had been erected in order to keep nosy visitors on the bridge instead of in the room. Beyond the force field, Captain Janeway and her holographic crew sat around the table discussing "business." Every once in a while B'Elanna would nod at something Seven said or Chakotay would glare at the captain. In Harry's opinion, they were consistent with the inconsistencies throughout the ship.

"If we continue around this arc," Harry led the small group of about a dozen tourists down the steps to the captain's ready room. Another force field was in place over this door as well. Janeway's hologram was inside having a discussion with Tuvok and Chakotay. The holograms would walk around and argue with one another as they were programmed to do. Harry had, after three years of duty on the Voyager museum, memorized each individual script they were programmed to play out-- and there was quite a handful of them.

"Did she ever not obey them?" A small brown haired girl piped up from near the back.

Harry allowed a smile to cross his features. "Sure. She was the captain. Her word was law. There were a few times the senior officers did clash, but the junior officers never knew it. In the end, the crew stood together."

"Now, if you turn your attention to the center of the bridge," Harry paused as he had been instructed to do and allowed the computer to take his voice and initiate the holographic attack program 'Hirogen.' This was the part most of the visitors enjoyed. Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay suddenly materialized in their command chairs as did the rest of the crew about various stations. There were shouts from different consoles as the Hirogen vessels were spotted on long range sensors. Lights dimmed the instant Janeway called for red alert. Harry leaned against the wall and watched his hologram fight the Ops console for readings he knew his captain would want. Around him, the visitors watched on in fascination as the legendary crew of Voyager fought off one of the various hostile aliens they had encountered.

Consoles beeped. Lights flashed in the darkness. The very deck below them shifted and shuddered as they experienced direct hits. Harry kept his eye trained on Tuvok's left ear. It seemed that particular part of his program was experiencing some malfunctions. Every once in a while, it would blur and begin to fade out. He'd have to work on it later tonight.

When Starfleet had heard that Lt. Kim was working on a monstrous holoprogram containing the visages of his own crew members, they had been furious. Harry had promised to not allow it to interfere with his work, and within the first year, he had finished it. Presenting it to Admiral Paris, he waited impatiently to see what they thought of it. He was unprepared for their reaction-- they loved it. Every detail, from Janeway's hair to Paris' cocky attitude had been lovingly incorporated into the program. The tiniest details made so much of a difference, Starfleet saw. They realized that Harry's program was superior to that of their own because it portrayed the crew as they really were.

"Set course for the Alpha Quadrant, Mr. Paris. Warp six." Captain Janeway gazed at the view screen as it erupted into a burst of light as the ship jumped to warp. Then, she turned around and sat down in her chair-- hands on either arm and leg crossed over her knee. Raising her chin slightly, the program stopped and blinked out of existence as the lights returned to normal.

"That, is the crew of Voyager." Harry said. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Or, you may look around the bridge. All of the consoles are fully operational still, but security precautions have been taken so they will not exit the visitor simulations. You are able to test your flying skills, run weapons diagnostics, sensor sweeps, even hail aliens that we encountered during our mission. Thank you all for coming on board, the turbo lift will take you back to deck thirteen where you can exit the ship."

Harry looked around the room quickly. Everyone was becoming immersed in some aspect of the bridge. The tiny brown-haired girl was tapping furiously on navigation as a young woman held her in her lap. A teenage Klingon male settled himself into the captain's chair and reached his hand over to the console. Harry turned back to the engineering console and pulled off the panel. He would take a quick look at that holo simulation right now.

The data chip was easy to access, it was the last one entered. Isolinear chip number 962A74Q03. Pulling it out of its place, Harry held it up to the light. A fine piece of lint was seen caught on the edge of it. Giving it a quick dusting, Harry slid the chip back into place. There, now Tuvok's ear should be clear.

"Computer, dim lights by eighty percent." Harry keyed open his quarters with his security codes and entered. His quarters were the only ones on Voyager not open to the public. He had purposely asked that he be allowed to continue to room in his old quarters and not be moved to the wardens' accommodations. Starfleet had finally agreed to it, but were not happy about it. Therefore, they had imposed all sorts of new rules and regulations he had to strictly adhere to. Such as the 'curfew' of 0130.

Flopping back on his bed, Harry let out a loud sigh. The rules and regulations were really not a problem. He could handle a few admirals telling him what they thought was best for his ship. He could handle replicator food day in day out. What he could not handle was the loneliness that had seeped its way into him ever since he'd left Seven. That was why he had found Libby and begun dating her again. It hadn't been the same, but their relationship had developed into a new friendship. One he was quite pleased with. Even if it meant he'd never marry or fall in love with her.

Everyone had a true love once in their lifetime-- or so he'd been told. Some allowed theirs to escape, others left them, still others lost them due to death. His heart told him Libby was not his true love. He had been sorrowed at their separation when they were flung to the Delta Quadrant, but it had not hurt his very soul as Seven had when they had separated.

"Ready?"

"Ready." Libby flashed her gorgeous smile at Harry as the two stepped out of HQ's transporter room. The sleek interior of the building usually forced Harry to be a little more quiet and formal, yet today, he couldn't seem to bring down his spirits. This was the first free day he'd had all month. And, he was going to spend it with a good friend- Libby.

"I was thinking we could head over to the bookstore after lunch," Libby was saying. "I found an old fashioned book you might enjoy having." The secretive way she squeezed his arm immediately peeked his interest. They had first met in the large store-- while both searching for the same book.

After lunch was eaten, Libby excitedly led Harry towards the bookstore.

"I think it's on the sixth floor." She grinned at him.

Harry nodded once and began to take a step towards the new turbolift that had been installed last year.

"Oh no you don't!" She exclaimed grabbing his arm. "We're doing this the old way!"

With giggles and hushed whispers, Libby and Harry grasped one another's arms and stumbled towards the stairs. Mounting the first two floors rather swiftly, they slowed as they came to the third flight of steps. Finally, reaching the sixth, Harry and Libby were huffing and puffing. "We take the lift down." Libby gasped out. "Remind me to never do this again."

Harry tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a choke. And then it turned into a sneeze as they opened the door and were greeted by a cloud of dust rising up from the other side of the shelf towards them.

"Oops. Sorry." A blue faced Bolian's head popped around the shelf and grinned at them. "My mistake."

"Not a problem." Libby whispered back with a smile as she guided Harry down another aisle. "It should be here somewhere..." A long slim finger tapped on each book as she swiftly read the title and moved to the next. "I found it late last autumn, but didn't pick it up for you because I had to leave so fast. I figured, if you were still interested, this would make a nice place to come."

Harry was listening to her, really he was. He just happened to notice a slim blond creature in a cadet's uniform that had captured his attention. Seven moved through the aisles, head tilted slightly to the left, as her fingers methodically tapped each book as she scanned the title. She was actually making decent progress, Harry realized, as she stooped to read a lower shelf. Much faster than he would have. Then again, she probably didn't stop to actually open any books that had half interesting titles.

"Ahh! Here it is!" Triumphantly, Libby grabbed the book and held it out to Harry.

Harry quickly turned back to her and accepted the book. The Bounty Trilogy. A grin spread across his features as he remembered their separated searches for the book that had led them together. Rising his eyes, he met her twinkling ones and shook his head with laughter.

A quick glance across the shelves revealed Seven who had heard their laughter and was watching them. Harry read the pain in her eyes before she quickly turned away and bent back over the shelves. Suddenly, Harry knew what it was she would be looking for. Taking a hesitant step in her direction, he quickly made the decision to move forward before he could back out of it.

"Seven?"

"Lieutenant Kim." She greeted him frostily without looking up.

Harry thrust the book under her nose. "Looking for something?"

Seven glanced at the book and then straightened up. "Indeed. I was ordered to retrieve that book by Lieutenant Nimembeh."

Harry stifled a grin and held it out to her. "Take it. I know what it's like to search for something only to have someone else find it. I was lucky enough that the other person lent it to me."

Seven gingerly took the book from him. Their fingers brushed-- a surge of electricity shot up her arm as her eyes locked with his. "Thank you." She said softly casting a quick glance at Libby.

Libby! Harry suddenly remembered the other woman standing behind him. "Well, I'll be seeing you around, Seven. Are you going to the reunion?"

"I plan to."

"Until then." He touched her arm and smiled softly at her before turning to leave with Libby. Seven was still watching them as they got into the turbolift. Unknown to her, a salty tear escaped her eye and coursed its way down to her chin.

"We can't see each other anymore."

Harry's head snapped up. "What?"

"Us." Libby shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea who that was back there--"

"An old shipmate from Voyager."

"--But you're in love with her. And she quite obviously feels the same." Libby leaned against the interior which had been designed to resemble an old elevator lift instead of the inside of a modern turbolift.

"I..."

"Face it, Harry." Libby turned and grinned at him. "I've known for a long time that you and I are not 'the one' for each other. I think you have too and have been fooling yourself. Go to her now. Tell her you've made a mistake and want to work around it."

And that was how Harry came to be standing at her door later that evening. Knocking softly, he nearly turned from the dorm room before it was flung open. With a grin, he turned back quickly. The smile quickly slid off his face as he stared at the woman who had opened the door.

"Yes?" She asked with a mischievous smile.

"Uhmm.. yeah. My name's Harry Kim. I'm looking for Seven."

She smiled even wider. "I know. I'm Julie Henderson, her room mate. Seven's should be back in a little bit. Want to come in and wait for her?"

Harry hesitated. Would it be a wise course of action to 'remeet' her in front of Julie? "Sure." He couldn't make it any worse afterall. Stepping inside the room, he knew instantly which side belonged to whom. Julie had thrown several data padds to the floor and had a towel tossed over a chair. Seven's chair was pushed tight to the desk which didn't sport a fleck of dust. Four data padds were stacked neatly in the corner, The Bounty Trilogy was tucked under them. The only personal touch added to her side was a picture on her nightstand and another on her desk. Upon closer inspection, Harry felt his stomach flip over. It was of him. The one on her nightstand showed him leaning against a tree while on one of their shoreleaves in the Delta Quadrant. The one on the desk was of both of them, his arm around her waist. It had been taken at his family's house in Massachusetts.

"Have a seat, she'll be back soon. I need to go talk to a friend of mine really quick." Julie ducked out of the room as the door swished shut behind her.

Harry opted for Seven's desk chair as opposed to her bed [though, it was tempting to curl up for a nap]. Laying his head on his arms, he waited for her to come back.

A bed creaked. A woman's giggle was muffled as the sound of moving blankets met his ears. Harry was vaguely aware of someone standing behind him and leaning over his shoulder.

A hot breath suddenly whispered against his ear. "We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Your biological and technological distinctness will be added to our own."

Harry's head snapped up. Eyes wide, he spun to glare at Seven. "That's not funny!" He exclaimed as Julie allowed her giggles to let loose. Seven, herself, was hiding a smile at his reaction.

"On the contrary, Lieutenant. It was quite funny." She smirked at him.

"I'll let you two talk." Julie gasped trying to regain control of her laugher as she scooted from the room.

Seven watched her go and then turned and raised her Borg implant/eyebrow at him. "You needed to see me, Lieutenant?"

"Yeah." Harry rubbed his eyes trying to rid the sleep from them. That'd been a good nap! "I wanted to talk to you about today."

Seven sat down on her bed and tilted her chin at him. "You made it perfectly clear that we do not have a relationship together anymore. We have not for years. Why would you have to explain your actions now?"

"Because I...." Harry shook his head. "I hurt you today, Seven. And I never meant for that to happen. I'm so sorry."

She looked away. "My emotions are irrelevant."

"Not to me!" Harry grasped her by the shoulders and turned her towards him. "I still care deeply for you, Sev. And, I don't want you to ever be hurt. Much less by me."

The same tears threatened to spill over Seven's eyes as she quickly looked away. "Your concern is noted and appreciated, thank you. Please leave."

Harry shook his head as he released her shoulders. "Not until I hear you say what needs to be said." He knelt down on the floor and rested their joined hands on her knees as she continued to gaze at the window. "I know, and I think you know, that we belong together." He began. "I want to hear you say that you'll agree to a relationship with me again. Please."

Seven was silent for a moment as a tear slid past her guard. Harry's hand was instantly there to gently brush it away.

She wasn't answering. He glanced down at their hands. Maybe he'd been wrong about ev-

"I love you, Harry."

--Everything and she didn't feel--

Harry's head snapped up. "What?" He asked in disbelief. He must have heard her wrong. She had never said she loved him before.

"I love you."

He stared in stunned silence as she turned her tearful blue eyes to meet his. "I'm sorry too." She whispered. Harry continued to stare at her as though she had suddenly announced her desire to assimilate Earth. "Say something." Seven implored squeezing his hands.

He said the first thing that came to mind, "That wasn't exactly what I expected you to say." He immediately felt like kicking himself. "I mean-"

Seven tried to hide a smile from him, but failed miserably. Finding his eyes again, she spoke, "Can we try that relationship again?"

"What? Of course!" Harry said a little too loudly as he pulled himself up to her side and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Seven settled herself contentedly in his embrace and managed to wind an arm around his neck so she could twist a lock of his hair.

"Good." A mischievous smile slipped over her features as she release the dark tress and moved her hand to the back of his neck to pull his head down to hers. "I promise not to mess this one up." She whispered.

Harry met her waiting lips and was instantly rewarded with the sense of disorientation he had experienced the first time he'd kissed her. As she pulled back and smiled at him, he shook his head at her. "You're something else, Seven."

"I know," she replied cheekily. "And, if you don't make yourself scarce in the next five minutes, you'll find yourself something else. Probably demoted back down to ensign."

Harry gasped and glanced at the chronometer. 2255. "You're right!" He exclaimed in surprise releasing her and jumping to his feet. "I'll see you at the reunion, though. Next week."

"You'll see me before that if I have anything to say about it." Seven smarted back lying her hand on his arm. "I've missed you, Harry. We've got a few years worth of time to make up for. And, I intend to try to do just that."

Harry leaned forward and brushed a kiss quickly over her mouth. "You've changed, Seven. You're more human than you ever were before. I like it." He touched her cheek. "And, I love you."

"And, to your left is the conference room." Blah. Blah. Blah. Harry honestly felt like saying that and seeing if anyone noticed. But, someone would. For instance, the golden-haired, spotted skinned, man in the back who wore coat of bright orange and lime green with purple pants-- none other than their infamous cook/moral officer/ tour guide of the Delta Quadrant-- Neelix.

"Here, senior officers met to discuss ideas, ship business, alien visitors, and anything else that required all of them to be in one place." Harry started walking down the steps and to the Captain's ready room. "Here, we have the Captain and Commander and Tuv--" he stopped suddenly and looked inside. Tuvok's program was missing. "We have the Captain and Commander holding a discussion about an alien race we met called 8472s."

"I've made my decision, Commander. Seven and I will transport over to this ship and test the slip stream technology." Captain Janeway's eyes glittered with unmasked excitement. "Just think, it could be a way home."

"Captain, I feel that it's an unwise course of action. It would be more in the terms with Starfleet if you allowed myself, or Tuvok, to take your place." Chakotay countered.

Harry stared at the program in confusion. He'd been working this museum every day for three years-- when had they changed it!?

"Ahh," he turned back to the group and felt Neelix's questioning gaze on him. "If you turn your attention to the center of the bridge," As cued, the computer took over and the holodeck scenario was played out without a glitch. Even Tuvok's ear behaved.

Neelix stumbled over to Harry and tapped his shoulder. "Lieutenant, out of curiosity, why would the Captain be wearing admiral level pips?"

Harry blinked rapidly and spun around. "What Neelix?" he demanded moving over to the ready room. Peering inside, he noted that Neelix was right. And, Chakotay had captain level pips attached to his collar instead of his Maquis bar. "Oh my word...."

Harry and Neelix both turned to each other in shock as they caught sight of a sparkle. Identical gold bands circled the finger of each other senior most officers' left hands.

"Tom!" B'Elanna punched her husband lightly on the arm. "Don't even joke like that."

The rest of the group laughed lightly with them.

"There! I told you they'd be here soon." B'Elanna edged out of Tom's arms as Janeway and Chakotay came through the doors, arms linked. "They certainly look happy together."

"Yes, they do." Harry did his best to hide his smile, but failed miserably.

"Out with it, Warden. What do you know?" Tom demanded.

"Nothing." Harry shook his head, eyes wide in innocence.

"If I could have your attention, please." All eyes turned to where Janeway stood near the entrance still. The din of the room quieted down enough that she could speak over it, though most of the crew members were buzzing about her hands-- the right firmly held a glass of punch, and the left was wrapped in Chakotay's.

"I want to thank everyone for coming." Janeway started. "And, I promise to make this short." Soft laughter filled the room for a moment. "Seriously, there were times on our journey when I didn't think we'd make it back-- and that was all right with me." She took a moment to look around the room and meet the eyes of several crew members. "You had become my family." A small smile slipped over her and Chakotay's faces. "Despite that, I'm glad for you that we reached home." A pause. She glanced uncertainly at her former XO.

"I'll do it." Chakotay squeezed her hand lightly and then looked out at the sea of faces. So many crew members. He knew each one by name, and though it was different to see some of the former Maquis in Starfleet uniforms, he was thankful for it. It meant they had learned to be a part of the society they had been thrust back into. "As all of you know, Admiral Janeway lost her husband, Commander Tighe while vacationing." She glared at him with a smile.

"Admiral my foot." She whispered to him. "In a few hours, we'll be outlaws."

Chakotay only smiled at her and then looked back to the crew who were smiling knowingly at them. "Everyone looks like they already know." He said to them. "Do you?"

"You asked her to marry you?" The shout came from somewhere in the back and sounded a lot like Tom Paris.

"Wrong Tom." Harry bit back a grin.

"Sorry, Paris. We've already gotten married."

There was a stunned silence in the room.

Tom finally found his tongue, "And you didn't invite us!?"

Chakotay and Janeway shared a loving glance and laughed. "No, Tom. We didn't invite anyone. We eloped." She replied.

Instantly, the messhall was buzzing with congratulations and excitement about their news.

"Hey!" Tom jumped up on a chair and tapped a glass loudly. "I've got an announcement too." B'Elanna flushed as Tom smiled down at her. "B'Elanna and I were married a year ago and we're going to have a baby in a few months!"

There was no silence this time. Everyone jumped in instantly with excited congratulations.

"Anyone else have an announcement?" Janeway asked with a laugh not bothering to hide her left hand now.

Harry and Seven exchanged a glance. "Now would be as good of time as any to mention that Seven and I are getting married."

More congratulations. Janeway shook her head at Chakotay. "Goodness, we get out of their lives for three years, and look what happens!"

He smiled at her and leaned closer to her ear. "We haven't put the idea of children away, have we?"

She blushed to the roots of her hair. "Chakotay, not here. We'll discuss that later."

"Of course." He murmured slipping his hand back into hers. "I love you, Kay."

She ducked her head and then looked back up at him. "I love you, too." She mouthed.

"If we could have your attention again, please." Janeway accepted Chakotay's help as she stepped onto a chair. "We've been through a lot as a crew." She looked around the group who was nodding at her. "Chakotay and I have decided that we don't want to spend the rest of our lives in the Alpha Quadrant." Tom's eyes shot up to meet hers, hoping, wishing. "We invite any of you who feel the same-- that we're different from the rest of Starfleet, that we don't really belong here after so much time away-- to come with us and go back to the Delta Quadrant."

"You mean, like hijack Voyager and get out of here?" Tom asked bewildered at what his former captain was suggesting.

Janeway's eyes narrowed. "Exactly."

"I'm with you." He answered instantly.

"Me too."

"Count me in."

"I wouldn't miss this for anything."

"Sure beat the AQ."

Chakotay squeezed Kathryn's hand.

"Then, if it's ok with everyone, I'd like to postpone this party. We have the ship to ourselves for the next four hours. Seven, can you remember how to bring the slip stream technology on-line?" At her brisk nod Janeway continued. "B'Elanna, Harry, work with Seven and get it back on-line along with all other major functions of the ship. Security teams, please, disassemble this Hirogen circus they've put together. Everyone else, lend a hand where needed, or, if you don't want to go back-- if you're content with your life here-- you are free to stay in the mess hall or leave. Thank you all."

Repairs were instantly started in a flurry of excitement. Every crew member helped, though several informed Janeway that they would be staying.

"Q'pal!" B'Elanna knelt by the console and hit the side of it with the palm of her hand.

"Chakotay to Torres."

B'Elanna let out a string of Klingon curses.

"Is that so, Chief?"

"Sorry." She muttered.

"I just wanted to see what status is down there." Another string of Klingon curses followed. This time, she threw in a handful of Bajoran, Human, and Talaxian ones also. "Would you repeat that in standard please? I seem to have lost my ability to translate."

"This computer is about as useful as Neelix's cooking!"

Chakotay bit back a laugh. "Understood. So, you think you'll need an extra five minutes?"

"Five hours wouldn't make much difference!"

"You've got two. Chakotay out."

"Seven! Get me that microphaser variance conductor! Harry, get ready to realign the isolinear chips!"

Engineering scrambled to do the work she shouted faster than they could react.

"Check subdirectory Engineering/Warp Core."

"Engineering/Warp Core?!" Janeway exclaimed. "What were you thinking, Harry?"

"That I didn't want Starfleet to find our Doctor. Vek! Give me that microprocessor. Captain, can I let you go? We're kinda busy down here. No! That was my hand you just set it on!"

"Sounds like we're going to need the Doctor on-line soon. I'll get him running again. Janeway out." Kathryn smiled at Harry's slip. It felt good to be called 'captain' again.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

"Welcome back." Janeway smiled at the hologram as he phased back into existence.

"I'm....I'm..." he spun around in a full circle. "How long was I off?"

"Nearly three years." Kathryn smiled fully at him. "You're back now though."

"How ever did you convince Starfleet?"

She looked away. "We didn't. We're leaving and taking Voyager with us."

"My holoemitter?"

"Seven said she was going to get it and be back with it within the hour."

"Captain, I must speak with you."

Janeway looked up to where Tuvok stood behind her. "Yes?"

"I must inform you that I will not be going with you. I have two daughters who need me here. One is still a child."

Kathryn stared at the Vulcan. Not coming with. The words were said so finally. She couldn't imagine not having Tuvok serve as her Chief of Security, he had been the only one she'd had for over ten years. She smiled wry-- ever since he'd found her guilty of forty three infractions after her first mission. Kathryn clasped her old friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry that you won't be coming, Tuvok." She said, tears gathering in her eyes. "You've been a great friend and I will miss you."

"And I you." Tuvok's own brown eyes held more moisture than usual. He stepped back and held up his hand, "Live long and prosper, Kathryn Janeway."

"Live long.....and prosper." Kathryn choked out. Reaching forward, she wrapped her arms around the surprised Vulcan. Hesitantly, Tuvok returned the hug.

"All systems are back on-line." Chakotay glanced at the woman who was once again back in the captain's chair.

"All personnel not going with us have left the ship." Lieutenant Wilner announced from her place at the security console. Tuvok had recommended this former ensign as Chief of Security, and Janeway had taken his advice. She would make a fine addition to their senior staff.

"Janeway to Engineering. Prepare to break docking clamps." They were going to use a quick phaser fire to break the hold Starbase 001 had on them, initiate thrusters until they were clear of the base, and then engage slip stream technology quickly.

"Engineering ready." B'Elanna's voice came back crisp, without a curse.

Everything must be running smoothly, Chakotay mused.

"Fire phasers."

"Firing." Wilner locked on target and initiated the twin burst of energy.

Tom had helm control before Janeway could say the word. He quickly maneuvered them away from the starbase and Seven engaged the slip stream technology.

Kathryn felt her stomach lurch as they easily jumped past warp. The view screen showed a sparkle of bright lights and plasma clouds as they flew past them and out of Federation space. Finding Chakotay's fingers with her own, she smiled at him.

"New Earth?" It had been unspoken between them. What better place to take the 112 remaining crew members--including all senior officers except Tuvok-- than New Earth?

"Helm, set a course for New Earth. We're going home."