Title: It Just Takes Some Time
Author: Megan Faye
Series: What You Mean To Me, My Love Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Paramount Owns Trek. I also swiped a few names from Ranma 1/2. Ranma, Nebiki and Akone (pronounced Ah KON ay)




Challenge #58: [from Angela Drews] Write a story where Chakotay finds out that Kathryn and Tom have something going on, (serious, flirtations, whatever) and he gets so jealous that he does something real bad to Kath or Tom. How it ends is up to you.




Challenge #64: [from Kendra Crispin] Suppose the transwarp kids, having been abandoned on that planet, are found by a group that turns them into humans. Then, after a number of months or even years have passed, the kids meet the Voyager crew and their parents. How old are the kids? How do Tom and Kathryn relate to each other from that point on? And, do the kids hold a grudge against the crew for abandoning them?




This is set in the beginning of Season 4 right after "The Gift."




Chakotay lifted his glass.
"To great friends, and new loves," he said, smiling at Kathryn. She grinned as they clinked glasses. "I'm glad you finally decided to give me a chance, Kathryn. I'll try my best to make you as happy as you're making me." Again, Kathryn smiled, only this time, she leaned across the picinic blanket and kissed him gently.

"I'm sorry I waited so long. Things were very complicated." She sipped her wine, deep in thought. "The hardest to learn seems to be the least complicated, though." Chakotay laughed, remembering the song lyrics from the party a few weeks earlier. A group of crewmen formed a band. The ladies sang mostly 20th century music. "We've gone through so much together in the last four years. Its quite amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes, I'll never forget the first time you tasted Leola Root Coffee. Neelix thought you were going to toss him off the ship!" Kathryn laughed.

"I threatened to if he ever made it again."

"You saved many many lives, O Wise One." They shared another laugh, slowly closing the gap between them. "Who can forget New Earth? Best 6 weeks of my life."

"You mean that?"

"The thought of building a life with the woman I loved-"

"Bridge to Captain Janeway," Tuvok's voice called via comm badge. Kathryn snapped back into captain mode.

"Janeway. Go ahead, Mr. Tuvok."

"We're receiving a distress call." Kathryn's head sunk into Chakotay's chest.

"On my way, Commander."




Many thoughts rushed Kathryn's mind as the turbo lift ascended. 'Thank god they inturrupted before we did anything we can't take back.' 'Who's needing our assistance?' 'Why now, on my first date in 5 years?' 'I love him.' 'I hate him.' 'I want him in my bed.' 'I wish he was Tom.''Where did That come from?'

"Chakotay, I-" The turbolift doors opened, and she snapped her mouth shut and stepped out onto the bridge.

"They're about 12 times our size, with weapons capible of destroying us with one shot."

"Then by all means, answer the distrass call! On screen." A kind face appeared. Except for the glowing rainbow spots running down his neck, he looked almost human. Maybe even Trill. "I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship, Voyager. How may we be of assistance?" He looked at her for a moment before falling to his knees, and bowing.

"Thank you for responding, Holy One. We are the Crowin. Our life support is failing. Our species can survive many weeks without it, but you see, we've got young Gods with us who need it." Kathryn exchanged a glance with Chakotay.

"We'll be happy to help you. Why don't we beam you and your......Gods to our ship while our engineers work on your life support?" The man opened his mouth in surprise.

"You would let us visit your world?"

"Yes, and we'll explain everything to you."

"Prepare the young Gods for their return home!" he shouted in pure joy. "Thank you for your kindness, Holy Ones."

"End transmission." Harry nodded. Once the comm was cut, the bridge crew glanced around in amusement. "I want everyone on their best behavior," Janeway said, trying not to laugh. "I'll explain to the that we are not Gods."




The transporter shimmered and six people appeared. Three of them were adults of the alien species, three of them were human children, roughly 1 year old. The boy had blond hair, as did one of the girls. The second girl was a red head, and was much smaller than the other two. Her hair color matched Kathryn's perfectly.

"Holy One, we would like to introduce you to ours Gods. Akane', Nebiki, and Ranma." The red haired girl looked at Captain Janeway curiously and smiled. She was a miniture Kathryn Janeway.

"Where did you three little ones come from?" Kathryn asked, lifting the littlest one up.

"Holy one, I may be able to provide the best answer for that. A little less than 2 years ago, we were hunting on our homeworld. Three small strange lizard-like creatures came out from the water. We'd seen two others taken by a group of people into a beam of light a day or two before. These three were much smaller and dying. We were going to put them out of their misery when they began to morph. In a matter of hours, two were infants like our own children, only no spots. The other one morphed a week or so later.We figured they were a sign from our Gods. We were to care for them, and find the other gods to return them to." Kathryn and Tom stared at eachother.

"We were in an accident in a shuttle on a plant a year and a half ago after morphing into what you describe." Chakotay and Tuvok stepped forward. "These men rescued us, but the three children managed to elude them. I beleive that these may be them." The three aliens stood.

"Then we have accomplished our mission. Be well, Holy ones, "He knelt to the children. "Young Gods, you are amung your own kind. They will not hurt you. I have read their thoughts. The want to take care of you, and the One who holds Nebiki loves you very much. You are safe now. Be well." The two blonde haired children were handed to Tom and Chakotay. "No tears, now. I will miss you as well, but be well. We must go."

"What about your life support?"

"As long as the Young Gods aren't there, we've got time to fix it. We can go weeks with no life support, they can go minutes. Thank you for the offer of assistance, Holy Ones." Kathryn nodded. "We know now you aren't Gods, but you will always be Gods to us." He bowed and Kathryn nodded for B'Elanna to beam them away. She hit the buttons on the console and they vanished in the blue light.

"That was......interesting. I'm glad they liked us. I'd hate to have been in battle with somone that powerful," B'Elanna said, looking at the three kids who looked back at the strangers and one by one, began crying.

"Oh, boy."




The doctor scanned the sleeping children. He'd given them each a hypospray to calm them so he could give them a physical and determine if they were, in fact, Kathryn and Tom's children.

"Well Doctor?" Kathryn asked, still holding the red haired baby girl.

"They are your children, Captain. While they are, in age, 18 months old, in physical maturity, roughly 12 months old. I belive their growth and maturity was slowed significantly after morphing into human form. The two bigger children appear perfectly health and normal for children 12 months old, but the little one appears to be only 8 months in maturity. I'm guessing it is because she morphed a little later than the other two. She'll be fine, but will be smaller and more frail than her brother and sister. She'll need a little more focus when it comes to eating because she's so small. The other two can be released to you and Lt. Paris, but I'd like to keep the smaller one here."

"Kessa."

"I'm sorry?"

"Their names aren't in any language I've heard. If anything, they sound Japanese. They don't answer to them and they need names." Kathryn looked at Tom. "What do you think about naming her Kessa, after Kes?"

"I like it, Captain. Kessa, Lindsey, and-"

"Eugene. Gene for short. After his father." Tom smiled warmly, feeling completly accepted for the first time in a long time. "Doctor, can we leave them here while we prepare a nursery for them?"

"I'm a Doctor, not a wet nurse. Sam Wildman and Neelix have volunteered to keep them the minute they heard."

"They've been on board for 20 minutes."

"Word travels fast."




Kathryn moved Tom into new quarters next to hers. The livingroom in Kathryn's quarters was aganst Tom's livingroom. She had B'Elanna get an engineering team push the wall back into Kathryn's quaters 5 or so feet, and then add a wall to inclose it. She and Tom now had mirror image quarters, with a nursery between them. There were three beds. Tom had chosen 20th century style cribs, as they were convenient and added a touch of color in the otherwise plain room. Kessa's bed had soft pink and yellow blankets. Lindsey had Lavender and yellow, and Gene had blue and yellow.

They decided almost immediatly upon meeting the children to raise them together. The two were become closer friends than either thought possible, and they were both the three babies' parents. It wouldn't be fair to them if they were split up or had to spend the night on one deck one night and a different one the next. It just made sense that they each have their own quarters, connected by the nursery.

"Why don't we pick up the children and see how they like the new bedroom?" Tom asked, now that everything had been completed. He admired the work. "I still think we should have painted," he said putting a pink bear into Kessa's crib. "I know, it would have taken too long to dry, and we wouldn't have been able to decide on a color. But the gray is so dark. Too dark for a baby's room."

"I know." Kathryn followed Tom out of the nursery and into the corridor. "Tom, we're about to become parents of three 20 month old babies. Aren't you the least bit nervous?"

"A little, but I'm sure we'll do fine. Captain, I have never been all that sure of myself outside of three things. Music, Piloting, and children. I was raised on Jupiter Station. I was the oldest kid there, and I made a lot of my credits by babysitting lower ranking officer's kids. My sisters were both younger than me by 5 or 6 years. They were way too young to babysit, but I was 11 or 12, and a Captain's son. I spent the better part of 4 years with babies. I always wanted one. Now I have three. I don't think I've ever been happier, Captain. I wish we'd have been able to raise them from birth, but this is all right."

"Tom, we've got three children together. I think as long as we're off duty, you should call me Kathryn." Tom laughed, and they linked arms and headed to sickbay.

Chakotay watched from behind. He felt his heart shatter. There had been a reason he left the babies, and now they had returned, stealing away his beloved. He turned and went into his quarters, and punched the bulkhead, full force.




"Come," Kathryn called softly from the couch where she rocked Kessa, who was nearly asleep. The chime had woken her and she was fussing again. Chakotay stepped through the door, wine in hand. "I can't make it tonight. Tom's on duty and Kessa doesn't want to sleep. The other two are wide awake as well. By the time I have the thrid one down, the first one has been disturbed by the movement and starts crying."

"Could you use a hand?" he asked, still wanting to spend time with her in any way. "I'm not so bad with babies." Kathryn smiled and handed Kessa to him and went for Lindsey, who had started crying when Chakotay rang the chime. When she returned, Chakotay was attempting to calm Kessa, who was screaming and pushing awway from him. She slipped out from Chakotay's grip and tumbled towards the floor. Kathryn grabbed her around the waist just before she crashed into the coffee table, head first. "I'm sorry, Kathryn! She just slipped."

"Perhaps you should go, Chakotay."

"I-"

"We'll be fine. I can handle it. Go." Kathryn glared at him as Kessa held onto her neck for dear life. "Kessa is very small for her age, and very fragile. It would be better if I handled this. Goodnight, Commander." Chakotay stared at her for a moment longer before turning and stalking out. As the door hissed shut, she set Lindsey on the floor, and looked Kessa over. She had a bruise forming where Kathryn had caught her and was still crying quite loudly. Kathryn tapped her comm badge. "Janeway to Doctor."

"Go ahead, Captain."

"Soon-to-be Insign Chakotay just DROPPED Kessa. I caught her around the stomach and its bruising. Should I worry?"

"No, Captain, but bring her in anyway."

"What about the other two? I can't just leave them here alone, and I can't carry three babies." Kathryn swallowed the fear and waited.

"Put the other two in their cribs. I assure you that they'll be all right. They will be perfectly safe for 15 minutes. If you're still worried, keep an open comm with the room." Kathryn quickly put Lindsey in the crib with Gene and lifted Kessa.

"Computer. I want an open comm from this room to my comm badge. Janeway Alpha-Pi."

"Comm chanel open." Kathryn nodded and headed for the turbolift.

"Deck Five," Kathryn called as she entered the turbo lift. Kessa was still crying, but not as loudly. Now it sounded weak and tired. "You'll feel better soon, My Kessa." The turbolift haulted and Kathryn finished the journey to Sickbay. She rounded the corner and entered. "Doctor!" she called.

"Set her down." Kathryn obeyed. The Doctor scanned the baby. "Is she all right?"

"She's got some minor bruising, but other than that, she's just tired." The Doctor ran a dermal regenorater over Kessa's stomach. "There we go, My little Friend. Good as new."

"I can't get them to sleep. Its my first night as a mother and I can't even get exhausted babies to sleep. I don't know how I'm going to handle this." Samantha Wildman entered with Naomi, who was the same age as Kessa and the other two. "Hello, Sam."

"Hi Captain. Doctor, she's got a bit of a fever." The doctor took Naomi and brought her to the sergical bay and put up a forcefeild.

"We don't want Kessa getting sick as well. Captain, you may take her back to your quarters." Kathryn nodded.

"Samantha, how do you deal with Naomi not sleeping at night? They may be going through the same thing." Sam thought for a moment.

"Do you have them in separate beds?"

"Yes."

"The aliens who raised them may have had them in the same bed, and they are afraid of being alone. Either that, or they're teething. In the second case-good luck." Kathryn rolled her eyes and took the baby back to her quarters.

When she got there, sure enough, Gene and Lindsey were sound asleep, curled up together. Not wanting to disturb them, Kathryn broght Kessa to her room and allowed the baby to sleep in her bed.




Tom looked in on his children. He worried when he saw that Gene's crib was empty. Fear took over when Kessa's crib was empty. He was able to calm when Gene and Lindsey were safe and sound in Lindsey's crib. He knew that Kathryn had taken a special liking to Kessa immediatly. The tiny features and big blue eyes along with the soft nature reminded them both of Kes. The other two were very active and crawled around full speed all the time, while Kessa was content to sit still on Mommy's lap and watch quietly. Mommy. He'd never thought of Kathryn as their Mommy before. Mother; yes. Mommy? Too strange a word for his Captain.

He ran his finger tips over the sleeping children's heads. They were so peaceful when they were together. Tom felt a calming content sigh. Yes; fatherhood suited him well.

"Well, little ones. I'm your Daddy. Now, I just got off duty and Daddy needs some sleep. I'll see you in a few hours. I love you. Sleep well, my babies." Tom kissed his hand and planted it on each ones forhead. He turned to leave, meeting Kathryn's watchful gaze. Kessa was asleep in her arms, head resting on Kathryn's shoulder and arms aroung her mother's neck. "So that's where Kessa went," he said playfully.

"That was very sweet, Tom." Kathryn gently placed Kessa in the crib with her siblings. "I think we should recycle the three beds and replicate one large crib. They won't sleep unless they're together. Except Kessa, that is. She would rather sleep in my bed." Gene began to stir. Kathryn held her breath. He layd his head back down and went back to sleep. Kathryn motioned to the door to her quarters.

"I already love being a father. I have spent an hour with my children, and I love it." Kathryn laughed.

"Then you can be in charge of bath time and bed time tomorrow. I think whenever that rolls around, it'll take both of us every time." Tom smiled.

"So, Kathryn, how are things with Chakotay? I saw him headed this way with a bottle of wine last night." Tom grinned kindly. "He loves you."

"I don't love him. Not after last night. I finally saw what it was that I don't love. I always thought I'd be able to love him, until last night." Kathryn got a cup of coffee. "Kessa was fussing, and when he came and rang the door chime, he got Gene crying too. I handed him Kessa so I could calm Gene down, and he dropped her. I caught her around the stomach just befor he head caught the corner of the coffee table, which is going into the recycler as well for a rounded edge table." Tom cringed. "She's all right, but Chakotay was careless. She could have been killed."

"Are you all right?" he asked softly.

"I don't know. I didn't want to leave any one of them out of my sight, but i had to if I was going to bring Kessa to sickbay. I was terrified." Tom placed his hand on hers, in a comforting, friendly gesture. Kathryn smiled softly. Tom was suddenly aware that he was holding his Captain's hand, in her quarters, and she was in a silk nighty. He let go as smoothly as possible and crossed his legs, also aware he was in boxers and an Academy T-shirt.

"When do you have duty?"

"We're both off duty for the next week. No one was able to fill in for you last night, but for the next seven days, we're going to settle in as parents. There's a lot to learn. It took me an hour to try and diaper one of them." Tom laughed, at ease once again. "Its almost 7. They should be up pretty soon. I'm going to catch a quick shower." Kathryn stood and hurried towards her bathroom.




As she showered, Kathryn thought about how clean and warm her hand had felt when Tom had been holding it. She smiled to herself as she remembered his words to their children. 'I could end up falling in-love with him,' she thought.

"I better be careful with that." She laughed, thinking about him, playing with Gene earlier. He was tickling his son with the teddy bear. Gene loved it. He laughed and kicked. Kathryn turned the shower off and stepped out. She toweled off and quickly dressed. There was music coming from the nursery.

Kathryn slipped her boots on and went to investigate. Tom had Kessa in his arms and the other two sat on the floor together, watching and giggling in delight as Tom disco danced with the baby girl to the song "Oh What a night!"

"Well, Miss Kessa, you are quite the little dancer. Definatly take after your Mom, there! She used to be a ballet dancer, once upon a time." He spun once more, still not noticing he was being watched. "Are you three hungry yet, or what? I am starved, and you Mom never eats enough. Let's all look staving when she comes in here. We'll MAKE her eat with us."

"I don't think pity'll work, Mr. Paris. However, I'm pretty hungry, and Neelix is cooking something special for us today."

"Why do I suddenly feel very afraid?" Kathryn laughed and handed Gene to Tom, and took Lindsey on her own hip.




"Chakotay, you need to get over her. She's got three kids with Tom, and I'm pretty sure that if she were to be with anyone, it would be Tom," B'Elanna said, with as much grace as possible. It was finally over; the chase she was giving Tom. He'd stopped seeing her in that light when those three babies beamed aboard.

"She loves me, B'Elanna. I know she does."

"Be careful Chakotay. You're starting to sound obsessed." Chakotay glared at her for a moment before staring into his tea.

"I love her. I wanted it to be me in the transwarp flight with her instead of Tom. Then it would be me sharing her quarters and children." Chakotay set his tea down. "Its not fair." He looked as if he would cry. Chakotay picked up his coffee cup and slammed in across the room into the bulkhead as hard as he could before stomping out of the mess hall, leaving B'Elanna, and the others who were eating, bewildered.




Chakotay stormed down the corridor. No one dared get in his way; they could feel he was angry from a deck away He stepped onto the holodeck where Tom played with his three children in a park. They each had their own swing.

"Hi, Chakotay!" Tom said cheerfully. "Would you care to-" Tom's words were cut short with a punch to his mouth.

"Damn you, Paris!" Chakotay shouted as he hit Tom again. "Why did you have to take her from me?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Kathryn and I are NOT together!" Chakotay hit him again and left. "What the hell was that about?"




"Commander, I don't want to hear of another display of violence. What is wrong, Chakotay? I've never seen you behave like that!" Kathryn scolded.

"Sorry, Captain." He kept his barings around her, not daring to let her see how much she'd hurt him.

"I'd like an explination, Chakotay."

"I was angry."

"At Tom, the cup or the bulkhead?"

"At you, Captain." His words were a slap across the face for Kathryn. "I loved you Kathryn. You were starting to give me a chance, and suddenly, I'm not welcome in your life. You went too far. You can't take back the pain, Kathryn. After teasing me me for 4 years, you were finally going to allow me to be a part of your life. Then you killed me. I don't think I can trust you ever again, Kathryn Janeway. I give you my heart, and you trashed it. You can't make it up to me, or take it back. You humiliated me, Kathryn." With that, Chakotay turned on a heal and walked out. As soon as the door hissed shut, Kathryn allowed herself to cry. Hurting him was never her intentions.

The chime rang pulling her away from her thoughts.

"Come," she called. Tom entered with their children. "What is that?" she asked curiously.

"Its called a stroller." He wheeled the contraption around for her to get a better veiw. "Seats three comfortable, and safely. Each seat has a restraint, a toy attatchment and plenty of kick room. The front wheels are extra wide and rotate for easy and safe corridor travel. The doctor has checked it over and it meets his approval. I had B'Elanna help me designed it."

"Oh my god, this makes things a lot easier." Kathryn lifted her tiny daughter up. "Did Daddy do something really smart? I think he did, Baby Girl." Kessa giggled and kicked her legs wildly. "Oh, you're so sweet." Kathryn kissed her daughter's cheek and set her back in the stroller and turned her attention to the blonde children sitting in the front of the stroller. "Tom, I think we have the three most beautiful children in the quadrant." Tom nodded and lifted Lindsey into his arms.

"Watch this, Kathryn." Tom looked right into his daughter's eyes. "Who am I? Can you say Daddy?"

"Dada," she giggled. Tom pointed to Kathryn.

"That's Mommy. Mommy."

"Mama?"

"Yes!" Kathryn whirled her daughter in the air. "Oh, you are just too smart for us, Lindsey." Kathryn was about to set her daughter in the stroller when the ship rocked, knocking her onto the floor and tipping the stroller over. Lindsey wailed, but the other two were terrifyingly quiet. The red alert sounded. "Tom," Kathryn screamed as he scrambled towards their babies. They were both unconcious. "Janeway to sickbay. Medical emergency. Five to beam directly to sickbay." Kathryn passed out as she and her family vanished and reappeared in sickbay.

"Please state the-"

"Shut up and help them," Tom screamed lifting the injured babies to a biobed. The doctor scanned the three. Lindsey had started to loose conciousness.

"Chakotay to Captain Janeway. We're under attack. Please report to the bridge."

"Not now Chakotay," Tom called. "Captain Janeway is uncouncious." The doctor thrust a medical tricorder into Tom's hands and snet him to work on Kathryn while he took care of Lindsey, Kessa and Gene.




"Sheilds down to 45%."

"Target their weapons and fire a full spread of torpedoes on my mark." Chakotay said, voice full of venom. "Now."

"No affect."

"We're screwed," Chakotay said to himself.

"Sir, another ship is decloaking. Its the Crowin!" Chakotay mentally thanked the Gods they had found them earlier. "We're being hailed by them."

"On screen." The man's face reappeared. Chakotay thought it was odd that he'd never given them his name. "Hello again."

"Would you like our assistance? Or would that be rude to interviene"

"By all means, intervene all you want!"

"Yes, Hole Ones." The screen went black and the alian ship that had attacked them exploded. The man's face reappeared. "We will follow you until you reach a safer area of space before we go home. Do you require our assistance in repairs?"

"No, but thank you."

"Where is the mother of the Young Gods?"

"She was injured." The Crowin frowned

"I'm sorry we were late. We'll remain uncloaked for the time being and protect you."

"Thank you."




3 days later




Kathryn opened her eyes. She saw Tom sleeping in a chair next to her biobed with Gene on his chest. The boy definatly took after his father. She stared for a moment. Gene had the same eyes and mouth, but that was the Janeway nose if she'd ever seen it. The chin was Tom's father's chin, and the forhead, her mother's. Kathryn had never looked at the features in that way; what feature came from whom. Tom looked peaceful, and yet, unsettled.

"Tom?" she whispered as to not wake Gene. Tom's head shot up.

"Kathryn, thank god. I thought I was going to loose you." Tears formed in his eyes. "I was really worried."

"Where are the girls?"

"Lindsey is with Sam Wildman."

"And Kessa?" Tom swallowed hard and pointed to the next biobed where their daughter lay, tubes in her throat. "Oh," Kathryn breathed as if she'd been punched in the stomach. "Will she be all right?"

"Don't know. She took a really bad hit to the head." Tom handed Gene to the Doctor and helped Kathryn sit in the chair closer to her daughter. "Seven's used some Nanoprobes to try and heal her, but so far, she hasn't come out of the coma."

"Captain, please get back into bed. You're still recovering from surgery and a three day coma."

"All right," she said softly as she pulled herself back onto the bed. Tom took his place next to Kessa's bed and held her hand.

"Hi, Baby. Its Daddy. Mommy's awake today. That means its your turn." Tom gave her hand a little squeeze and sang 'You are my sunshine' softly to the baby as if she were simply asleep. "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I heald you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken. And I hung my head and cried. You are my sinshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, Dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away," he sang; the last line no louder than a whisper as he melted into crying, softly at first, but those soft gasps, too, melted into heavy sobs. Kathryn put her hand on his shoulder.

"She'll be all right, Tom," Kathryn wispered. "Kes was strong, and so is Kessa." Tom leaned back against Kathryn's bed and held her hand as they watched their daughter.




After a long bath and a quick lunch, Kathryn pulled on a clean uniform and headed back towards sick bay. She had been kicked out and ordered to get some sleep, but Gene and Lindsey had other ideas. Instead of sleeping, Kathryn played with her two children. They were growing very fast since they came aboard, and were strating to walk. It had been two weeks since they came aboard, and the attack was only 2 days later.

Kathryn was getting to know the two babies. Gene liked applesauce, while Lindsey liked peaches. She would get to know Kessa this way when she woke up. 'If she wakes up,' Kathryn thought to herself.

"Paris to Janeway."

"Yes, Mr. Paris?"

"Please report to sickbay. Neelix is on his way to watch the kids." Kathryn swallowed hard, fearing the worst. She put the two in the crib and ran out into the corridor. She only stopped running when she reached the turbolift.

"Deck 5." The lift moved; not fast enough for Kathryn, but it was only 4 decks. After an eternity (30 seconds), the lift finally stopped and deposited Janeway a few meters from her destination. She rounded the corner and stepped into sickbay. Tom was sitting next to a biobed, rocking Kessa, who was wide awake and sucking hungrily on a bottle. "Oh, Kessa! You had us very worried, my littlest one," Kathryn whispered to the baby as Tom fed her. "Do you feel better now, my love?" As if to answer her, Kessa whimpered once and then went back to her bottle.

"Do you want to-" Tom started gesturing at the baby and the bottle.

"No, Tom. You're doing fine." Kathryn smoothed Kessa's soft red hair down. "Well, my littlest one," Kathryn said softly. "When you feel up to it, you've got a family that has missed you."

"Kathryn," Tom said. "We are a family, aren't we."

"I'd like to think so," she said, eyes dancing with mischeif. Tom pulled her closer and kissed her head gently. "We're an interesting family, but we're a family."




More to Follow in Part Two: Dream a Little Dream of Me!